| The Gomez era in Montreal has been rough. (Getty Images) |
If this summer's CBA negotiations result in an amnesty clause, you can take it to the bank that Scott Gomez will be the first contract removed from the books as soon as the Montreal Canadiens can do it.
But in the meantime that's just idle chatter, wishful thinking for the Habs. They have to deal in the rules of now and that would mean there are only two ways to get rid of his contract: trade him or buy it out. Considering no GM is going to want to take on Gomez's cap hit of $7.357 million that runs through 2013-14.
So that leaves the option of a buyout, which is expensive. Not only does the team have to pay money for the contract but they incur a salary cap hit despite the player not even being on the roster any more.
Still, when you're paying that much for that little production (Gomez has only two goals and 11 assists in 38 games this season), the cost doesn't seem so bad.
So the question today: Is Gomez expecting and planning for a buy out from the Canadiens? That's what one report from Patrice Brisebois of TVA Sport has to say.
But Habs beat writer for the Montreal Gazette Dave Stubbs says the idea hasn't even been brought up and Gomez doesn't know about it.
#Habs Gomez tells me buyout / #NJDevils is news to him: "I'm just trying to get healthy & get back. Buyout's never been brought up"
— Dave Stubbs (@habsinsideout1) March 20, 2012
The Devils part references the part in the original report that if he were bought out he’d look to return to New Jersey, the place where he had the most success in his career.
I don't put too much stock into on-the-record comments like that from Gomez, it's so rare that players and team officials will admit to such things in public. A buy out for Gomez just seems to make too much sense at this point if the amnesty clause doesn't come.
No matter how this will play out -- and I'll just go on the record in thinking he'll be out of Montreal by next season's start -- this is as good a time to remind you that the Canadiens not only took on that massive contract but they traded some players including stud young defenseman Ryan McDonagh to the Rangers for the privilege of carrying it on their roster. That makes the whole saga even more painful for Habs fans.
For those curious as to what a traditional buyout would look like, here you go, courtesy of Cap Geek. His cap hit would remain with the Habs through 2015-16.
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