Word is just coming in; Scott Gomez's time on Manhattan is at an end. Gomez was dealt today to the Montreal Canadiens with F Tom Pyatt and D Michael Busto in exchange for RFA Forward Chris Higgins and D Ryan McDonagh and D Pavel Valentenko. The Canadiens were known to be actively looking for a #1 Center and after exploring trade options for Vinny Lecavalier, appear to have settled on Gomez.
Chris Higgins was just given a qualifying offer by the Canadiens for $1.9 million so assuming he signs the qualifier, the Rangers will be off the hook for over $5.4 million in cap space this year alone. This opens up lots of possibilities as the Rangers may still be targeting Dany Heatley (and maybe Ottawa would rather have Higgins than Zherdev?) in a trade or they may have the cap space to make a bigger splash in UFA by pursuing a player like Marian Goborik or Marian Hossa.
I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised that Sather was able to move Gomez's salary off of the books while adding a guy who recorded 27 goals (12 on the power play) just two seasons ago. Now the Rangers have a little bit more flexibility to go out and make other moves to improve the roster. So now what Rangers fans, what move is Sather looking at making now?
Huge trade. Who is their No. 1 center now though?
I suppose Drury. This makes it more unlikely that they would include Dubinsky in a trade for Heatley. Maybe there will be some bargains in UFA later in the summer. We will be a little thin but that was one of the deals that hamstrung us.
HA! The Canadiens chats are blowing up with negativity for this trade.
HA! The Canadiens chats are blowing up with negativity for this trade.
I'd rather have Duby getting more ice time than Drury. If both players were given 20:00 per night(Drury is), I'll bet Duby will score more.
Yeah and he'd have a bigger overall effect in the offensive zone. I love the way he forechecks and hits. He and Callahan seem to fit the mold of player that Torts likes at Forward.