THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens jumped into the NHL transactions melee with a big splash on Tuesday, acquiring centre Scott Gomez from the Rangers in a seven-player trade that sent Christopher Higgins to New York.
The move unburdened Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather of the seven-year US$51.5-million contract (salary cap hit: US$7.35 per season) he gave Gomez in 2007, leaving him space to pursue another trade or sign a player when the NHL free agency period begins on Wednesday,
It gives Montreal a fast, skilled, but smallish centre who scored only 16 goals in each of his two seasons with the Rangers.
"That’s the business," Gomez said on a conference call from his native Alaska, where he was on a fishing trip. "It’s a little sad but at the same time I’m a little excited.
"It’s the mecca of hockey."
The Rangers got a speedy winger who missed 25 games with groin and shoulder injuries this season. Higgins earned US$1.9 million in 2008-09, when he had just 12 goals and 23 points — the lowest output of his NHL career. He is to become a restricted free agent on Wednesday.
The Canadiens also gave up two of their better defence prospects — Ryan McDonough, a 2007 first round draft pick now playing at Wisconsin, and Pavel Valentenko, who bolted AHL Hamilton after four games this season to play for Dynamo Moscow in Russia.
They also gave up rights to negotiate with potential unrestricted free agent Doug Janik, who ended the season in Hamilton.
Montreal also got two prospects — 22-year-old forward Tom Pyatt and 23-year-old defenceman Michael Busto, who both played this season for AHL Hartford.
Acquiring Gomez is a likely sign that small but gritty centre Saku Koivu, their captain for the last 10 years, will leave as an unrestricted free agent. The Canadiens made him no offer ahead of the free agency deadline.
General manager Bob Gainey was looking for help at centre, but it remains to be seen if he stops there or continues to chase a big centre, like Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier.
"We are very pleased to have acquired a player of the calibre of Scott Gomez," Gainey said in a statement. "He is an outstanding playmaker and an excellent skater.
"Having won the Stanley Cup twice with the New Jersey Devils, he brings to our team a lot of playoff experience. Scott is an elite player who will certainly contribute to the success of our team for years to come."
Koivu is one of 10 roster players on the Canadiens eligible for unrestricted free agency and only two — winger Alex Kovalev and defenceman Mike Komisarek — had talks on staying in Montreal.
However, Komisarek agent Matt Keator issued a statement saying the big blueliner will test the market, even if he hasn’t written off signing a new deal with Montreal.
Their other UFAs are Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang, Mathieu Schneider, Tom Kostopoulos, Mathieu Dandenault, Patrice Brisebois and Francis Bouillon.
