Scott Gomez could be the first casualty of the Marc Bergevin era in Montreal.
According to Sportsnet’s Louis Jean, reports out of Montreal suggest that the Canadiens and their newly-hired general manager are expected to buy out the remaining two years of Gomez’s contract.
Gomez has come under heavy criticism the last few seasons, failing to produce numbers that would justify his hefty contract. The veteran centre finished with only two goals, nine assists and a minus-9 rating in 38 games this past season.
The 31-year-old Gomez has two years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $7.36 million. With the CBA set to expire this summer, it is unclear what the timetable would be for a potential Gomez buyout.
Gomez is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the New Jersey Devils in 1999-2000 and 2002-03. In 902 career games with the Devils, New York Rangers and Canadiens, Gomez has 169 goals and 517 assists for 686 points.
The Canadiens will make the Bergevin hiring official on Wednesday at a 2 p.m. ET press conference.
