Scott Gomez has a Sense of Humor

A huge attribute that will serve Scott Gomez well this coming season is his sense of humor and ability to not take things to seriously. This former 1998 first round New Jersey Devils draft choice who won the Calder Trophy in 2000 after a 70 point campaign will be facing a huge challenge this coming season in playing with the Montreal Canadiens. Gomez who played seven seasons in New Jersey and the past two with the New York Rangers is excited about the challenge of being thrown into a major hockey market in Montreal. “I’ve been in Montreal now since the beginning of the month,” Gomez who is coming off an off-season of 58 points said. “It’s a little different. I mean, everywhere you go people are going to recognize you. I left a great place (New York) and I’m going to where they say hockey kind of got started and it’s going to be neat.” Gomez who at 29 years old is still in his prime came to the Canadiens on June 30 in a major seven- player deal. Besides for his exceptional on ice vision Gomez brings with him the experience of what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. In his rookie season this speedster from Anchorage Alaska scored 10 points and posted a +! In 23 post- season games in playing a big part in helping the Devils become Stanley Cup Champions in 2000. When reflecting on his past season and looking to the future Gomez believes that everything will fall into place in the pressure cooker of Montreal if he stays healthy. “I had an off-year but it’s going to happen,” Gomez who is only 5 foot 11 said. “I’m not going to sit here and say I’m going to score 30 goals but at the same time I’m going to get back to my game where my linemates are going to score 30 goals.”

Even though a majority of Montreal fans and media criticized Gainey for getting another small forward in Gomez this nine- year veteran who has 578 career points is not worried about feeling any extra pressure from fans or media alike. “What did someone say? I went from the stove into the microwave… It’s going to be a great life experience. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as the team wins.” During the month of August Gomez has been not only getting used to Montreal but also taking French lessons which should go a long ways in impressing the hockey fans. The intense pressure will begin on October 1 when the Canadiens play their number one rivals in the Toronto Maple Leafs.