NHL, PA reach agreement on Gomez case

The National Hockey League and its Players’ Association have reached an agreement that could immediately benefit the playing careers of overpaid but underachieving players such as the New York Rangers’ Wade Redden and the Montreal Canadiens’ Scott Gomez.

Any NHL team may now use one – and only one – “accelerated compliance buyout” prior to the opening of the 2013 season on Saturday, with the bought-out player’s full cap hit still affecting the team’s books for the duration of this season.

No cap hit would be taken on these accelerated buyouts during the 2013-14 season.

As part of the new collective bargaining agreement, each team has been granted two amnesty buyouts, which were originally intended to begin this summer.

If the contracts of Wade Redden and Scott Gomez (or any other players) are bought out by their respective clubs during this first window, the players will become unrestricted free agents.

Player consent is required to buy a player out under Tuesday’s amendment, and the buyout candidate’s cap hit must be a minimum of $3 million.

Since the team making the preseason buyout would see no immediate cap relief, it has been viewed as purely a goodwill gesture to allow bought-out players a shot at playing for another NHL team in 2013.

For 2012-13, Redden carries a cap hit of $6.5 million and Gomez carries a cap hit of 7.36 million, according to capgeek.com.

Both players would have to be put on waivers by their teams and clear waivers before becoming available to play elsewhere.

Prior to Tuesday’s amendment, Gomez was informed by the Habs that he should stay home instead of risking injury this season and that he would be bought out in the summer.

In 119 games played in the American Hockey League over the last two seasons, Redden has scored 12 goals and added 50 assists.

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