For those of you who don't know the New Jersey Devils, "we" are likely the most family oriented club in the NHL. If you are talented enough to make the NHL and play for the Devils and you have a sibling that plays hockey, the Devils will find a spot in the system for your Brother. Darcy Zajac, Jordan Parise, Stephen Gionta and even Chris Lamoriello has the GM gig in the AHL. Once you retire from NJ, you are usually offered jobs in the system in one form or another as well.
With all that being said, I never expect much from a sibling of a former/current teammate, especially if they were never draft because we pretty much take anyone that is related. However, in the past 18 months or so, Stephen Gionta has been a very very pleasant surprise.
Stephen Gionta or Gionta's Brother as some Devils fans call him, has done more than anyone can ever expect of an undrafted, undersized over-achiever. Last season Stephen played one regular season game, and scored a goal. Then he played on the much heralded 4th last during our cup run where he scored 3 goals and 4 assists in 24 playoff games and really scored timely goals while just playing an average of 9 minutes a game. This season, he has been an invaluable penalty killer and his ice time has jumped up to an average of 13 min a game and he has chipped in 10 points in 34 games which isn't too bad for a 4th liner either.
10-11 Dominion - Stephen Gionta Rookie
Very cool that the Devils do this with family members. The Blackhawks tried it last year with Jonathan Toews' brother, David, but it didn't work out.
ReplyDeleteCool, I didn't know that, I always thought he was still too young to be playing pro! I will need to look up and see where he is at now.
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