I cannot agree more. Gionta is an excellent player, do not mistake me. However, the Devils do not have a playmaking center that can feed Gionta the passes or set up for his finish like Gomez did. In NJ; especially with a defense-first game style, it is difficult to take a finishing type player and ask for him to fight on his own, espcially with his size. Gio is excellent trade bait. I think he could attract second round pick attention right now, and if he enters free agency will pull in around $5 mil a year. BUT: he will go to a team with a dominating center. He is undoubtibly (I know thats spelled wrong!) a first line right wing, who could be plugged at LW. Imagine him with CBJ with their up and coming play making centers? Or in a place like LA where he can play with Kopitar? Or even Washington with Backstrom and AO. He would be dominating, most likely reaching the 30 goal plateau.
I have been a big fan for almost my whole life. It is not a question of how he skates hard every shift, plays both ways, it is a quesiton of can he produce on his own. He is a workhorse, but right now NJ is not his place. I personally like Gionta's play, but I firmly believe his success is out of NJ, unless Lou decides to scrap the old style game and adopt a more face paced, skilled "New NHL" style. Until he is traded or the Devils change face, Gionta will have similar seasons. Just my 2 cents.