Brian Gionta

Brian Gionta was drafted 82nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1998. He played for Boston College from 1997 to 2001. Gionta spent his entire professional career with the New Jersey Devils until his free agent signing with the Montreal Canadiens on Free Agent Frenzy Day of 2009. Brian Gionta isn't considered an impact player but more of a supportive cast member. General Manager Bob Gainey took much heat from offering him a 5 million dollar contract during the off-season of 2009.

Brian Gionta plays a hard nose hustle type game. He is not afraid of the physical part of the game and goes to the net very often. He is always found hovering around the goalie on powerplays. Because Brian Gionta is so small he has some of the best hands in the league and likes knocking pucks out of mid air. He also doesn't mind going hard to the net and making space, allowing him to get plenty of garbage goals and sneakily adding to his goal totals.

Gionta has been linemates with Scott Gomez several times throughout his career and they both have tremendous chemistry. In fact Gionta had his best NHL year the first year out of the lockout when his line was centered by Scott Gomez. During that season Gionta scored 48 Goals and Scott Gomez put up 84 points, their biggest totals of their careers. Gionta likes to hand the puck off to Gomez and have Gomez sneak over the blue line while Gionta bursts into the zone with speed.

The strengths to Gionta's game include his agility, quickness and intelligence with the puck. Brian Gionta has amazing hand-eye coordination and excellent hands in close to the goalie. He also displays amazing work ethic and never quits. On the down side, Gionta is one of the smallest players to ever play in the National Hockey League, he stands only 5 feet 7 inches tall, only 1 inch taller than the league's shortest player.

Brian Gionta was named captain of the Montreal Canadiens for the 2010-2011 season. He won a championship as captain of his Boston College team in the year 2001. Brian Gionta's dad owns a tool store and made Gionta work there as a child. This is where Gionta says he developed his strong work ethic. In College hockey Gionta once scored 5 Goals on his first 5 shots in one game.