Bonus: Scott Gomez
Team: None Pos: C Age: 36 Ht: 5’11” Wt: 200 Shoots: L GP: 21 G: 1 A: 7 P: 8 Contract status: Unsigned
This move would be a signing, though it would require a trade to execute, as the Avalanche currently have the NHL maximum of 50 players signed to contacts. That being said, it might be worth moving somebody to sign Gomez.
Currently, Gomez is playing for the AHL’s Hershey Bears on a PTO; meaning, he is free to sign with any NHL team. He was not given many meaningful minutes during his brief time with the St. Louis Blues (both sides mutually agreed to terminate his contract) earlier this season, but still showed his playmaking prowess. He continues to pile up the apples in Hershey, with 22 in 15 games. If you don’t think that could translate into production at the NHL level, consider this: He had 27 assists in 58 games for the New Jersey Devils just last season.
Gomez is responsible enough defensively to play a bottom-six role but still has enough offensive ability to contribute if a top-six center goes down, making him the ideal extra forward. Not to mention ,he is the proud owner of two Stanley Cup rings, and that experience would probably be worth the prorated league minimum salary it would take to sign him.
