Former NHL star Scott Gomez has fond memories of his rookie cards, enjoys coaching young hockey players
Scott Gomez is still asked almost daily to autograph hockey cards from his 16-year NHL career—and every past card carries an interesting tale.
“There are some cards that are great; there are some cards that are not,” he said. “The thing that people don’t realize about cards is, you can tell how you were playing [through the photo] because of the glove, the stick, the moment.
“If I was in a slump, I can tell.”
How?
“It was something I did with my glove or my stick. I don’t know if that’s the case with [cards of] other sports, but definitely [with hockey]. I always think that’s cool,” Gomez said. “If I was killing it, yeah, I absolutely could tell.”
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The best years of his career came with the New Jersey Devils (1999-2007) and New York Rangers (2007-09), while he struggled after joining Montreal in 2009-10.
“My cards [while playing for Montreal], I try to sign those as fast as I can,” he said.
Gomez added that he usually can tell if a photo was taken during the regular season or playoffs.
“Growing up, we collected baseball cards,” said Gomez, whose interest in cards waned as he got older. But, during the pandemic, that’s when he realized that the card craze had returned.
“Seeing my cards … they bring back a lot of memories,” he said. “One of the most special moments for all athletes is when you have your first card. And that’s not just for NHL players. I look at some of my [early] cards, wow, I was young-looking.”
Gomez, the first Alaskan to play in the NHL, was announced in September as a 2025 inductee into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. He is the first Alaskan to be inducted into the US Hall, which currently recognizes 214 former players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams who have left their mark on hockey in the United States since 1973.
Gomez joins other 2025 inductees Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Tara Mounsey, and Bruce Bennett. Gomez and Parise were New Jersey Devils teammates from 2005-07, and Gomez played with Pavelski with the San Jose Sharks during the 2012-13 season.
“It’s a great honor to be inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame,” Gomez said. “To receive the highest honor in our nation’s sport is truly special. This achievement is a testament not just to me but to those who helped me along the way, including USA Hockey, where my journey started. Being the first Alaskan in the Hall of Fame is something I take great pride in. I know more will come, but to join the other names who have received this honor before me is incredible.”
Gomez, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, is the new head coach of the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League with its home games played in Geneva, Ill. Gomez, 45, joined the Steel after serving as head coach and general manager of the Surrey Eagles in 2024-25. He also previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders.
“I never wanted to bother someone for their autograph [during my playing days],” said Gomez, who does have a hockey stick collection. “I have a cool [stick] collection from my heroes. Some of the current players wouldn’t even know these players, but it was cool.”
A 16-year veteran, Gomez has a slew of rookie cards, such as:
• 1999-00 Topps Chrome #291
• 1998-99 Topps Chrome #232
• 1999-00 Upper Deck Gold Reserve #251
• 1999-00 Upper Deck SP Authentic #51
• 1999-00 ITG Be A Player Memorabilia #301
• 1998-99 Bowman Chrome NHL Draft Prospect #145
• 1999-00 Pacific Prism #81
• 1999-00 Pacific Dynagon Ice #116
• 1999-00 Upper Deck Black Diamond #52.
“My cards are now only worth about 50 cents,” he said, laughing.
Gomez, who replaced Mike Garman after Garman became associate head coach at the University of Notre Dame, said he was “honored and thrilled” to take on the role of head coach of the Chicago Steel.
“This organization has a tradition of success and a commitment to developing players both as athletes and individuals,” he said. “My goal is for the Steel to be the top destination to prepare players for the next level.
“I enjoy this age group; they all have dreams. Just as important, though, is how are you off the ice—the please, the thank you, etc. The life lessons, just as I learned from Lou Lamoriello, the Devils and my parents.
“The history of the Chicago Steel, the way the organization is run … the history speaks for itself. When people think of the USHL, this is a place people want to come.”
A native of Anchorage, Gomez played junior hockey in Canada for three years before being selected No. 27 overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Draft. One year later, Gomez made his NHL debut with the Devils and scored 70 points in 82 games, recording the most points and assists among rookies. His impressive first-year campaign saw him earn a spot in the NHL All-Star Game and he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Gomez won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie that season and, shortly after, won the first of his two career Stanley Cups with New Jersey. He won his second Stanley Cup in 2003, scoring 12 points in 24 playoff games.
Gomez played for the Devils for eight seasons, finishing his time in New Jersey with a combined 703 regular-season and playoff games played, recording 549 points (144 goals, 405 assists) and a +63 rating while playing alongside Hockey Hall of Famers Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Scott Stevens, and Joe Nieuwendyk.
“I did everything in the game. I was on top of the mountain and in the depths of hell,” he said. “I know what it’s like to have no one to talk to—and I’ll never let a kid get there, be in that situation.
“There are still some people who think I didn’t have a good career because of my time in Montreal. But I got to meet the greatest people in this game, through this game, fulfill my dreams, take care of my parents.”
Gomez played 1,079 regular-season NHL games, collecting 181 goals and 575 assists. His NHL run included time with the Devils, Rangers, Canadiens, Sharks, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Ottawa Senators.
When asked what he misses most from his playing days, he said, “the competition, for sure. That’s where coaching helps; it brings it back.”
Gomez was a Stanley Cup champion in 2000 and 2003.
“Getting to play in my first NHL game … you cannot explain that,” Gomez said. “It was a moment for me and so many others— my family, my friends, even a former English teacher who was a huge mentor. Stepping on the ice for my first NHL game, it was a holy cow moment. Everything was different; everything was better, even the lighting was better.”
Gomez reached the 70-point mark four times and set career highs in 2005-06 with 33 goals and 84 points and recorded the most assists in the NHL (56) in 2003-04. He retired from the NHL in 2016.
Many coaches on his skating journey influenced Gomez, including Larry Robinson, Rick Lanz, Pat Burns and Adam Oates, who Gomez tagged as “the greatest hockey mind I have ever been around.”
“I’ve been very fortunate to play for some great coaches,” he said.
Gomez spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Islanders during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He joined the Surrey Eagles, the BCHL team he played for during his junior career, as an assistant coach in 2023, helping them to a BCHL Championship. This past season, his first as head coach, Gomez led the Eagles to a 31-18-5 record, second-best in their division.
“Everything we do at the Steel is what’s best for the kids,” Gomez said. “I rely on my coaching staff big time. … I’m a firm believer, it’s a team effort; everyone must be on the same page.
“I’ve had some of the best coaching and some of the worst coaches. We had success last year and hopefully we will again this season. I’ve long studied coaches, and not just hockey coaches. I watch football coaches, to see how they run their programs. Now it’s my time to do it.”
Gomez said the Steel offer a “great challenge” as the United States Hockey League is “one of the best leagues,” he said.
“There is nothing but excitement on our part, to see if our philosophy, our gameplan will work [at this level],” he said. “This is a real exciting moment; I’m really excited for this season.”