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Scott Gomez on training camp tryout with Devils: 'I’ve still got a lot to prove'

Gary A. Vasquez / USA TODAY Sports

Scott Gomez has been presented with an opportunity to potentially keep his NHL career rolling, courtesy the New Jersey Devils, who've extended the 34-year-old a professional training camp tryout offer. 

Gomez, who appeared in 46 games for the Florida Panthers last season, admits he considered retirement, but believes he can still make a meaningful contribution at the NHL level.

“There were other opportunities and I had some other offers on the other side of it, in TV and stuff like that, but no,” Gomez told Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice. “I’ve still got a lot to prove. I still want to play. There’s a lot of hockey left. I talked to so many guys that I played with. There’s still a lot to prove.

"For whatever reason, last year didn’t work out," Gomez continued. "I had some other teams call, but we went to [general manager Lou Lamoriello] and I just said, ‘Give me the opportunity to make the team.’ We talked, obviously and he wanted to know where I was at and I just said, ‘I want to come back. It’s still there. No one’s writing my script. I’ve got a lot to prove.’ And he gave me the tryout and now it’s my job to make him keep me.”

Gomez spent seven seasons in New Jersey early in his career, winning two Stanley Cups (2000, 2003) and registering career-highs in goals (33) and total points (84) in 2005-06. 

He appears to be banking on organizational familiarity as a means towards extending his pro career, and it will be up to Lamoriello and head coach Pete DeBoer as to whether he does indeed dance with the Devils again this season.

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