Devils won't offer contracts to Gomez, Bernier

The New Jersey Devils will be without a couple familiar faces next season.

Forwards Scott Gomez and Steve Bernier remained unsigned by the club and general manager Ray Shero has made it clear that both players won't be returning next season.

"That's not a direction I'm looking to go at this point. I think we made a decision back before the draft to let (Bernier) go to free agency and let him go in a different direction," Shero told NJ Advance Media's Rich Chere. "Obviously they haven't signed anywhere yet, but I'm sure they are working on some things themselves.

"With Scott, as I've said before, it really wasn't so much about him but more us going in a different direction and giving an opportunity to younger players. We drafted (Pavel) Zacha and I've talked about (Jacob) Josefson."

Gomez made the team last year after receiving a professional tryout from the club, but at this point, Shero doesn't plan on handing out any tryouts to players.

Gomez had seven goals and 34 points in 58 games last season, while Bernier finished with 16 goals and 32 points in 67 games.