Gomez dealt to Habs
NEW YORK—Scott Gomez’s brief New York tenure ended Tuesday when the star center was traded by the Rangers to the Montreal Canadiens as part of a six-player deal.
The key player coming back to New York is forward Chris Higgins, a Long Island native who is set to become a restricted free agent. The deal was announced one day before the NHL’s free-agent shopping season opens today.
New York had been looking to clear space under the NHL salary cap and cut out a major contract that still has five years and $33.5 million left on it. The cap hit on Gomez’s deal is $7.35 million.
“We’re not up against the cap now,” Rangers General Manager Glen Sather said of the $56.8 million payroll ceiling for the upcoming season. “We’ve got lots of cap room. It just makes the options more inviting for us. I am not sure what is going to happen.
“It gives us some options [today] when free agency comes along and I think there is going to be quite a few options available.”
Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley, a natural goal scorer, has asked to be traded and could possibly land in New York.
Canada’s Sportsnet reported Tuesday night that the Senators dealt Heatley to the Edmonton Oilers for forwards Andrew Cogliano and Dustin Penner and defenseman Ladislav Smid. However, a story in the Ottawa Sun early today said Heatley vetoed the deal by refusing to waive his no-trade clause.
Forwards Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik are also attractive options that could be available on the free-agent market today.
“Since this deal has happened, I’ve had three calls,” Sather said of potential trades. “It doesn’t take very long for people to recognize that you’re going to make some changes.”
Gomez was sent to Montreal with minor leaguers Tom Pyatt, a forward, and defenseman Mike Busto. Along with Higgins, the Rangers received defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko from the Canadiens.
After winning two Stanley Cup titles with New Jersey, Gomez was part of the Rangers’ rebuilding program when he signed his big deal the same day fellow center Chris Drury left the Buffalo Sabres for a lucrative contract with New York.
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