The Official Gomez Thread

[Natural Mystic]

I think Gomez deserves his own thread on this site. He's not getting sent down, and we all know it. He's very difficult to trade, and we all know it. Can we put him on the wing? Is this something worth considering? Any precedent for such a move? Would he entertain that idea, maybe embrace it? I'm not suggesting Eller is ready. I realize we beat the Flyers with goaltending in disarray, and the Bruins who are off to a slow start. But we might be seeing encouraging signs for the future.

Ask and you shall receive. Gomez hasn't scored a goal since Febuary. On team990 it's been speculated that he can't play C anymore, yet has the ability to carry the puck into the opposing zone with efficiency. Is he past his prime? I feel like an experiment on the wing would be an excellent choice. Can management pull through? Like where is THIS Gomez?

Oct 23, 2011:

Scott Gomez - 6 games, 0g, 1a

Ryan McDonagh - 6 games 2g, 2a

[revvvrob]

Gomez should watch this compilation. it's INSPIRING! he's been great before ... he can be great again!

[JMMR]

I want so bad for him to be good.

Come on G LOVE

[illWill]

A common theme of goals scored in the video: He is either parked in front of the net or he actually shoots the puck. It's amazing what could happen if he did this now.

[zumpano21]

When Kovy's game play with the Habs was noticeably deteriorating, he was very explicit in saying that he re-thought his approach to the game. He trained harder in the summer, he watched his old tapes, and I believe the effort resulted in the 2nd best points total of his career. I'm aware that Gomez said he was going to train harder this summer and bounce back but he obviously hasn't and I don't recall him detailing how he trained this summer. I firmly believe that he's mailing in his effort every night, perhaps giving 90% on a regular basis. I think he should be 3rd line centre.

On a side note, do you think management would take a run at Kyle Turris given this week's developments?

[JCPetit]

In his best years, Gomez was quite a player. He is still very fast on skates, and he is probably still our best centerman to bring the puck in the offensive zone. IMO, Plekanec is not as good in this department, particularly on the power play. His problem is that he is too predictable, although I saw an improvement this year: he shoots more. Still, there has been no results so far. To be frank, though, there would have been if Gionta, in particular, was playing better. How many times did he have a good opportunity this year and was not able to bury the puck? IMO, it cost us a lot so far.

Cammalleri is another one who doesn't contribute much. IMO, he stays too far from the goal. Most of his shots are from afar, and even though his shot is accurate, he is no Sheldon Souray.

Fortunately, Pax, AK46 and Moen (a big surprise so far) are doing all right. But we need more for the other snipers. Let's hope that we are building some confidence that they will start getting better soon. We need everybody to contribute.

[Habsy]

Thanks Natural Mystic! I'm not usually the topic starter type. I tend to post dumb comments to existing great discussions. As for Gomez? I'm convinced it's very difficult to be his teammate. I'll try to explain why. It occurred to me while watching an episode of MTV Cribs, as that's the world we live in now. Where athletes and entertainers are mixed together. Gomez puts up average numbers in the league, nothing special. But he cashes Steven Stamkos like cheques. On his current contract, Gomez should take home, after taxes and agent fees, roughly 30 million us dollars. Now take a teammate, who earns 2.5 million per season, and produces at the same level, maybe more. Obviously, 2.5 million is a wealthy man. But it's nothing compared to Gomez and his 19 goals over 2 seasons. The 2.5 million player get's a great watch, a nice truck, and a cottage for the summer. If he invites Gomez to visit, Gomez can fly his own helicopter and land it out back. That's the difference in tax bracket. The 2.5 million dollar player get's a great set of golf clubs. Gomez can purchase his OWN golf course. If you consider the interest his money he can earn when invested wisely, it's even worse. I have no trouble suggesting he makes more in interest per year than Mathieu Darche's actual contract pays him, before Darche pays taxes. It's staggering. I believe it's naive to to think this is not an issue in a dressing room. It makes me laugh that we're playing better with Gomez out of the lineup. No doubt it's just a coincidence though.

[Natural Mystic]

On a side note, do you think management would take a run at Kyle Turris given this week's developments?

I'm not quite sure they have the cap space, they'd have to unload a heavy contract like Gomez of Cammy to get him. So it may be unlikely.

Thanks Natural Mystic! I'm not usually the topic starter type. I tend to post dumb comments to existing great discussions.

You're welcome. Hehe nice humility

It's crazy his contact compared to others, like Max Pac who is producing already. I can only hope that the players see it as a team game and that Gomez CAN help the team. Since he has such a high contact, he should contribute in the way that he can, which at this point seems like a steady re-integration into the lineup via playing on the wing. Yeah I was surprised at the video of him on the Rags and NJ. He drove to the net and seemed to follow the puck well. He created all those plays. To be fair, he HAS been trying harder this year and has been attempting to shoot more often and go through the center of the ice. Just no results yet.

Wanting the cup back in MTL, Gomez has to play like the highest paid player, we need him to get going, he used to be feisty as well... he should look at his tapes again like Kovy, maybe he did. Maybe his current injury has given him some reflection time. If he got on fire we're an even better team, and my prediction for this team was over 100 points, and I still feel they can do that. Gomez with 60 points this year is nice. Maybe he can pull through! You think that he does want to contribute lots, seeing how he's getting lots of cash. And apparently he is giving back to the community.

Hopefully he can get going soon.

[Commandant]

I think Scott Gomez has actually played a lot better this year than last, but just wasn't getting points.

If he comes back playing the same way I bet the points will start to come.

I'd have him at Centre, because i think he's a better option there and DD should be at wing. I think that configuration is best for the team.

His line would be 2a/2b with Eller, where whichever line was playing better would be the one getting more minutes.

[bbp]

I'm not quite sure they have the cap space, they'd have to unload a heavy contract like Gomez of Cammy to get him. So it may be unlikely.

If Phoenix had a stabler ownership situation I think they would be interested in Gomer.

[Commandant]

I think you could add Turris if you wanted to move AK46.

I think Turris will take less than 4 million if he's traded. The 4 million was always an unrealistic demand for the purpose of being traded.

[bbp]

I think you could add Turris if you wanted to move AK46.

I think Turris will take less than 4 million if he's traded. The 4 million was always an unrealistic demand for the purpose of being traded.

I wouldn't trade AK for him. AK shouldn't go we need his size. If we could ditch Gomer on them for Turris, thats the only way I think Montreal could/should make a move.

[Commandant]

Yeah, I don't know that they want Gomez right now... too much salary for Phoenix.

Maybe next year though, if they stay in Phoenix since his cap hit will be greater than his actual salary in the last 2 years of the contract... It could help them reach the floor.

[bbp]

Yeah, I don't know that they want Gomez right now... too much salary for Phoenix.

Maybe next year though, if they stay in Phoenix since his cap hit will be greater than his actual salary in the last 2 years of the contract... It could help them reach the floor.

Yeah maybe next year, but if Phoenix is around that long without real ownership I'll be surprised.

[Trizzak]

If both Desharnais and Eller are playing center, we're losing a lot of faceoffs. I think Desharnais should be tried at the wing

[bbp]

If both Desharnais and Eller are playing center, we're losing a lot of faceoffs. I think Desharnais should be tried at the wing

They could always just spend time working on their face-off ability.

[JoeLassister]

I see ZERO good reason to play Gomez at W and even less good reason to send him in the minors.

That being said, I wish he could produce on a regular basis. We would be a much better team.

[Trizzak]

They could always just spend time working on their face-off ability.

Ok...

but is it possible that they just aren't that good at it?

[bbp]

Ok...

but is it possible that they just aren't that good at it?

Putting the pressure on them to be better at draws could just work.

Gomez isn't producing and if having him play wing will get us more goals I think DD and Eller can get a bit better at faceoffs with a little extra attention given to it.

[Commandant]

DD's size also makes him a huge liability in defensive zone coverage (5 on 5) when he plays C.

[bbp]

DD's size also makes him a huge liability in defensive zone coverage (5 on 5) when he plays C.

Wouldn't his size be more of a problem when he gets run over by other teams big wingers along the boards?

[Commandant]

Wouldn't his size be more of a problem when he gets run over by other teams big wingers along the boards?

No.

Defensively, at Centre, his assignment is to contain the cycle game and help the two dmen in doing so.  This leads to him getting into a lot of board battles.

At wing, he's covering the point man and making sure the breakout gets out of the zone.  Its more similar to his role as a PK forward, than it is to his role defensively  as a centre.  His positioning, hockey sense and quickness becomes a bigger asset.

This is why little guys like Gionta, Cammalleri, Fleury, St. Louis, Ennis, Gerbe, etc... have all either been wingers, or converted from Centre to Wing in the NHL over the years. The only guy I can really think of who stayed at center was cliff ronning among the exceptionally small (5'9 and under).

[Habsfan]

This is most likely Gomez's last season in MOntreal. He has 2 years left on his contract (5.5 million next year and 4.5 million the year after that). Either we'll be able to trade him to a team that needs to reach the cap floor, or we'll buy him out. UNtil then, let's just hope he can put up 55 points this year.

[Colin]

This is most likely Gomez's last season in MOntreal. He has 2 years left on his contract (5.5 million next year and 4.5 million the year after that). Either we'll be able to trade him to a team that needs to reach the cap floor, or we'll buy him out. UNtil then, let's just hope he can put up 55 points this year.

I can't see buying him out. I can't remember the percentage (BRIAN!) but there is a percentage that will still be cap hit for the following year. Why buy him out when you can have a player who's still going to be more effective than a 3rd line player? Even if you just use him as a PP specialist, it's better than a buyout where you get nothing in return. More likely is a trade, since one year on that hideous cap hit isn't nearly so bad. In fact, isn't his actual pay in his final year much lower? (Answer, yes, $4.5M - thanks Brian.) While still not easily tradable, at least it's significantly better than his cap hit. There are plenty of options, but I don't think buying him out will be near the top of the list.

[Commandant]

I can't see buying him out.  I can't remember the percentage (BRIAN!) but there is a percentage that will still be cap hit for the following year.  Why buy him out when you can have a player who's still going to be more effective than a 3rd line player?  Even if you just use him as a PP specialist, it's better than a buyout where you get nothing in return.  More likely is a trade, since one year on that hideous cap hit isn't nearly so bad.  In fact, isn't his actual pay in his final year much lower?  (Answer, yes, $4.5M - thanks Brian.)  While still not easily tradable, at least it's significantly better than his cap hit.  There are plenty of options, but I don't think buying him out will be near the top of the list.

I agree.  I don't see them buying him out and having his contract on the books for 4 years. The only way would be if buyouts change radically in the new CBA.