Rangers trade Gomez to Habs

I’m laughing at Bob Gainey and the Canadiens right now… why?? Plan B for not getting Vincent Lecavalier was… Scott Gomez!? You read that correctly. New York has unloaded Gomez and his $7.35 cap hit to the Canadiens in exchange for RFA Christopher Higgins. There were some prospects sprinkled in. Here’s the official deal:

Canadiens get:
Scott Gomez
Prospects Tom Pyatt & Mike Busto
Rangers get:
Christopher Higgins
Doug Janik
Prospects Ryan McDonagh & Pavel Valentenko

Let’s look at this from the Rangers’ prospective. They got rid of Gomez’s hideous contract and picked up a solid package in return. Glen Sather did something smart!! Assuming the Rangers sign RFA Christopher Higgins, the Blueshirts did fabulous in this deal. Higgins shouldn't get more than $2.5 mil on his new contract. Ryan McDonagh, Montreal’s 1st round pick in 2007, was rated the 37th best prospect in the NHL by The Hockey News in their ‘Future Watch’ magazine this spring. Valentenko isn’t too shabby of a prospect, either.

This move obviously sets up another one coming in the next day or so. The Rangers suddenly become big players in the chases for the Sedins and Dany Heatley… or any other top free agent for that matter! If they trade for ‘Heater’, it would likely come later tonight. Higgins could be turned around and put in a package for Heatley… who knows. All I know is that Sather is up to something, and he’s not done yet.

As for the Canadiens… wha, wha, what happened??? Just because you have $33 million to spend doesn’t mean you just trade for a big salary like Gomez’s. Gomez has averaged a shade over 64 points in his 9 seasons in the league, and is coming off his worst season since the lockout. Along with the overpaid Alaskan came a couple prospects, Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto, who both are a long way from reaching the NHL. Gainey's brain freeze is going to cause a stir for the wrong reasons in Montreal...

I don’t like this deal for the Habs… love it for the Rangers. Bravo to Mr. Sather for clearing room for a different big contract that’s worthy of its billing.