Brian Gionta signs with Canadiens; Devils moving on

Add Brian Gionta to the list of former Devils. Gionta has signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

Gionta will be reunited in Montreal with fomer Devils' linemate Scott Gomez.

Gionta set a team-record by scoring 48 goals for the Devils in 2005-06. He had 20 goals and 60 points for the Devils in 2008-09,

It appears the Devils will have a very different look next season. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello seems content with moving on with the team he has and allowing younger players fill the holes created by the departures of Gionta, Mike Rupp, Scott Clemmensen and, likely, John Madden.

Lamoriello said he was not expecting to be overly active in the free agent market today.

"We weren't really anticipating anything unless there was something we felt made sense financially and could help us," Lamoriello. "I really focused a few days ago on Johnny (Oduya) and Andy (Greene)."

Lamoriello believes the team has players within the organization to compensate and compete.

"But if there is a case of us getting better we will," Lamoriello said. "We've got to get some of these young players in there."

Lamoreillo did not rule out re-signing unrestricted free agents Brendan Shanahan and Kevin Weekes.

"You never move on from anything," Lamoriello said. "We'll just see how everything goes in the next few days."

Lamoriello said that there is still a possibility that Weekes could be back with the team, bu it sounds like there is a good chance that rookie Jeff Frazee will be Martin Brodeur's backup next season.

"We're going to make a decision in the next few days whether Jeff Frazee will be [the backup] or we'll bring in a veteran so we don't rush Jeff," Lamoriello said. "But we've very, very happy with Jeff."

Lamoriello said Weekes is still an option.

Lamoriello also mentioned having room on the team for Rod Pelley, which seemed to indicate he knew John Madden would leave to sign with Chicago.

Of Rupp signing with Pittsburgh, Lamoriello said, "You have to make decisions. In Mike's case, we have [Pierre-Luc Letourneau-] Leblond. Youv'e got to get some young guys playing,"

Of Clemmensen, he said. "I feel good for him that he's getting that opportunity [with Florida] and he was able to do very well for himself. He deserves it."

Comments

[Sean]

Wow they overpaid. Good job Lou staying clear of that.

[Pat D]

5 years 25 million?? I wouldn't have minded Gio back here for 3 mil per season, good riddance for that contract.

[Andrew]

Over paid....I'm liking the "new" look devils. Get rid of the parts that have not been working

[LouforPrez]

Figures! WTF is with all these guys being suckers for money. Lou has done terrible so far and I don't expect him to do well for the rest of the offseason. The way the roster is now...the team is going NO-WHERE next year.

[chris]

Sad to see him go, but Habs WAY overpaid. Thanks for everything, Gio. Good luck!

[Henrik L]

wow Montreal sure got a lot better today!

[Neil S]

Yeah seriously, it's hard to feel bad about losing 25 goals when you pay someone 5 million and hope he reclaims what he had with Gomez.

[Steven]

Man the Habs overpaid.

[Mike]

Way overpaid, but seriously we need to do SOMETHING with all this coin we aren't spending.

[HoOn]

Where is Montreal getting all this money?

[Andrew]

any madden news?

[Brodie30]

Let's see what you've got Bergfors. Your move.

[Armen]

Between Gomez and Gionta- that's 13 million a year. That's nuts.

[Scratch]

Well this freaking stinks...what the hell? what kind of crap left over players are we going to get stuck with now? I can't believe this, I try to just trust in Lou, but I really think the guy dropped the ball today...

[Jim B]

I think MOntreal got smaller and faster for sure, but I dont think that translates into a stanley cup, they will get pushed around a bit unless they add some more size up front.

[Brodie30]

Montreal could very well be moving sideways. They aren't signing comparable players and bringing in new ones. I wouldn't say they are better. And three years from now they might be in BIG trouble.

[Henrik L]

And those $ 13M is gonna make Mottau and White look like statues next year...
Oh dear, that's not gonna be pretty. This means, there is no chance Habs can afford Koivu, right TG?

Hope Lou goes after him

[Steve]

lou has made moves in the past that nobody was expecting, man he better have something up his sleeve

[Puckster]

Don't forget that the Canadians lost or will likely lose the following players from last season: F Saku Koivu, F Tom Kostopoulos, F Alex Kovalev, F Robert Lang, F Alex Tanguay, F/D Mathieu Dandenault, D Francis Bouillon, D Patrice Brisebois, D Mike Komisarek, D Mathieu Schneider, F Chris Higgins

[Maximib]

Holy crap.

[Scratch]

what's next? Barry Melrose gonna be our coach?

[LouforPrez]

If they DONT sign anyone, they better be BIG spenders next year...

[Mark]

add in cammelleri and you're up to a 19 million dollar first line! So, they replaced Koivu with Gomez and Tanguay and Kovalev with Gionta and Cammelleri....at a huge increase of more than 4 mil over the replaced guys. Man are they rolling the dice? But, they also replace Komisarek with Hal Gill.

[Tom]

Ugh. Looks like with all this money Madden's coming back...

[Puckster]

I still think the Canadians are a worse team this year than last year.