Comrie/Gomez
 

Today's Spectors:
My thanks to "Tim" for the following speculation on Mike Comrie: "The Fan960 radio had Calgary boy John Davidson on the air yesterday from New York. I just caught the tail-end, but he felt a Comrie-for-Scott Gomez swap was in the works."

I think maybe Gomez and a third rounder for Comrie would be a possible deal.

This seems decent. Plus, Gomez would get to play closer to home. Edmonton is about as big-city close to Alaska as you can get!

I personally feel that Comrie is worth more than Gomez. (Please, no "Comrie is worth less now that he's holding out" crap.)

However, I would gladly deal Comrie to NJ if a young d-man was also coming back.

So

Comrie + 2nd

for

Gomez + Hale/Martin

As an Oiler fan i wouldnt be terribly upset if the deal went down... but i would like more of a goal scorer.

No from a Devils perspective. I don't buy this crap that Comrie is worth more than Gomez. Gomez out produced Comrie playing with less support on offense. I wouldn't do this deal straight up much less Gomez and Hale.

Gomez outscored Comrie by 4 points in 11 more games playing on a team that won the Stanley Cup.

I would not make this trade if I was the Oilers. I have long believed that Gomez is one of the more overrated player in the league. He is a useful player when in the right system (like the Devils) but I hardly think he is a unique talent like Comrie can be.

So their ppg are almost the same. Gomez' team might have won the Stanley cup, but Comrie's team still made the playoffs, and is the far more offensive team playing in the much more open western conference. Comrie also had much better linemates, as Gomez played with Elias for less than half the year.

In the end, I think Gomez and Comrie will put up similar numbers and are close to each other in age, the difference is that Comrie makes a lot more money and is holding out for more. Also, Gomez is a known quantity in NJ, while we have no idea what Comrie would do. Because of these things, I wouldn't do a Comrie for Gomez straight up, much less Comrie and a 2nd for Gomez and Hale.

You would have to go with a general pattern when it comes to offensive players in trade. Given the same set of circumstances as Gomez, I believe that Comrie would produce better numbers. That said, I don't suspect that Mr. Comrie and Mr. Burns or Mr. Lamoriello are designed to get along.

Would you agree on these two items?

1. If Comrie improved on Gomez' production, it would be by about 10 points at most.

2. Those ten points would not be worth all the extra salary and aggrivation that would be picked up in the trade by NJ.

I can't say I understand this. If anything, Gomez really hasn't been a good fit in Burn's stifling defensive system, and is really one of the ugly ducklings on the Devils. Putting him on a fast-skating, hard-forechecking team like Edmonton would be a pretty good way to return him back into the 70-point range. The guy is extremely gifted offensively.

Personally, I think his trade value is much higher than Comrie's, if only because of his perception as a problem child (Comrie's, I mean). I think his situation really mirrors that of Marc Savard...I remember there were quite a few posters here, me included, who thought Savard could fetch Gomez back when Button was shopping him, but we all saw how that turned out.

Gomez is a dirt cheap 50+ point producer. Comrie is also 50+ point center.

Whats Comrie asking for again 2-3 million?

No thanks

No, It's been said plenty of times, Comrie is not looking for that kind of cash, he would probably sign for a 2 yr deal worth 3 million and maybe another million in potential bonuses over the 2 years. but the reason Mike Comrie isn't happy is because he feels that Kevin Lowe going public with his feelings towards Mike Comrie (among others) lack of playoff performance wasn't called for. He is also faced with the pressures of being the go-to guy in his hometown, which is not an easy thing for a 23 yr old kid to get past. I wish that the problems would just get resolved and we could could all be one big happy family again.

but if he was to get traded, I personally don't see New Jersey being a good fit for him, his style would better compliment a team that uses the ice more and doesn't play a suffocating style of hockey. Good fits for Mike Comrie would be the likes of Tampa Bay, Detroit, Anaheim and New York Rangers, among others.

We don't know what Comrie is asking for because Lowe, Comrie and his agent(Rich Winter) have a ridiculous "confidential agreement" on this whole contract dispute.

I would agree with point number 1.

For point number 2, I am not totally knowledgeable what exactly that aggravation would be. The more time goes on...the more that this is less and less about money. This is more about being criticized in the media, and having to deal with the fans as a hometown boy. Not being able to go into a 7-11 and buy a Slurpee after losing 5-1. Not being able to go to a bar and have a couple of quiet brews with a couple of buddies.

Everyone knows who Mike Comrie is in this town. I get the feeling he would rather play in Florida or New Jersey or anywhere.

Economically there has never been a word on either side about "How much?" That has been only speculation on everyone's count.

So, as far as aggravation...maybe trying to handle Primeau in the playoffs, but other than that, nothing else has been confirmed.(This comes from the point of view of someone who is not really a Comrie supporter)

It's too bad, I think Comrie is a good fit in Edmunton.

I think if the Devils swing a deal for a center they'll be wanting 3 qualities: size, faceoffs, goal-scoring. I don't think Comrie for Gomez would be worth it for New Jersey.

There is no way Gomez has higher trade value than Comrie, absolutely no way. Comrie is considered as a future star in the league, Gomez isn't. From what I see of Gomez, he's about as good as he'll ever be. I don't see him improving all that much more. Yes, he'll mature as a player but I don't think he'll get all that much better. Comrie has alot of developing to do still and will get better each year. He will be a #1 centre in the league, Gomez won't. And contrary to what you think, Comrie is not a problem child. Everyone assumes he is but he really isn't. Gets along with his teammates, gives 100% on the ice. The reason he gets this rap is because he isn't agreeing to a contract that management wants and he is upset with comments made about him. People should really know more about the situation they are talking about before they talk about it. This situation definitely does not mirror Marc Savard, this shows how little you know of the two situations.

I'm a Comrie hater, for good reasons! And I love this idea!!

Kevin Lowe calls Lou.

Lowe: Hi Lou, how about we swap Comrie for Gomez.


Lamoriello: WHY ?????

Answer that and you will see why that deal will most likely never happen. But then again, what do I know. Maybe Lou is in love with a small C with contract problems everytime one comes up.

Did I say Comrie was a problem child? Geez, try reading a post completely before firing off some ill-conceived reply. Personally, I don't think Savard is either - just a little cocksure and mouthy in his youth.

As for "Gomez not getting any better than he currently is"...what do you mean? He's the 40-point he is today for life? He has no chance of returning to the 70+ point heights he attained a few years back? Forgive me if I am not the pessimist you are. I also happen to like Gomez's all-around game much more than Comrie's...I don't share the sentiment that Comrie is a sure bet to become a #1 center in the league.

I'm on the record in the past saying I like the deal. Comrie's trade value (if signed) is higher IMO. Lowe will likely try to expand this deal and target Martin/Hale (NJ's young defense).

I like the following deal for both sides:

Comrie, Rita ---------- for ---------- Gomez, Hale/Martin

I can't see it happening from an Edmonton perspective. Lowe has shown that he wants to have a big, physical team and Gomez is definitely neither. Edmonton also would not want another playmaker, we need a guy that wants to shoot the puck and Gomez is much more of a passer than a shooter. Does not make sense for either team. IMO

Really!! you know that for sure? i played golf this summer with 3 NHL players who said he's a little **** in Edmontons dressing room and most of the players can't stand him.Just talk? well maybe! but i haven't heard of any Oilers players commenting too much on his absence.
But when Savard was being lashed by hitler Gilbert many of the Flames players spoke up when they heard the "cancer" talk and said he was great guy!

Point is,you never know what the real story is,but i'm sure any GM interested in Comrie would want to know exactly whats up with this kid.His history with contract problems alone would make me to trade him for a bag of pucks!

You say you have played golf with three NHL players, but you didn't say Oilers, so if they are not members of the Oilers how would they know what is going on in the dressing room? and players don't talk about inside stuff like that to just anyone. None of the players were asked to comment on his absense because they don't know what is going on either.

Please provide proof of his history of contract problems. I would be enlightened to hear of them. :rolleyes:

All of you guys that say this and that about Comrie's attitude problems are just as out to lunch as everyone else besides Lowe, the coaching staff, and Winter.

I see no incentive for the Devils to make that deal.

When all is said and done, Comrie likely is a slightly superior talent than Gomez. But Gomez works superbly within NJD's structure. Why mess with a good thing that wins?

Honestly, that is a "change for the sake of change" deal from NJD's standpoint. And Lou doesn't deal like that.