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My inside source has now told me that the Rangers are officially trying to shop center Scott Gomez in order to free up cap space. Not only will a trade free up enough space for Mats Sundin, but will also add wingers and give the team more depth...

Scott Gomez Deal Imminent: Los Angeles, Vancouver, Minnesota Destinations

by Greg Caggiano (Senior Writer)

61

3941 reads

Breaking News

August 23, 2008


 

My inside source has now told me that the Rangers are officially trying to shop center Scott Gomez in order to free up cap space. Not only will a trade free up enough space for Mats Sundin, but will also add wingers and give the team more depth.

 

The trade could play out in one of these three ways

1) As reported by hockey buzz, Gomez to Vancouver is probably the most likely and even of the three scenarios in this article. In exchange for Gomez, the Rangers would get one of the Sedin twins, adding another Swede to a lineup that will soon add Mats Sundin.

2) Gomez gets traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Marian Gaborik. The Wild have said they want him signed or traded before training camp and to be frank, if they know they're going to lose him, Gomez isn't a bad player to be getting back in return. Gomez is familiar with a defensive style that Jacques Lemaire coaches and will add speed to an already fast Wild lineup.

3) The final situation is an even bigger blockbuster then the first two. The Rangers trade Gomez and Petr Prucha to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Anze Kopitar and Patrick O'Sullivan. Sounds crazy right? Think again. The Kings aren't even at the salary floor and by taking on Gomez's large and long-term deal, it will fulfill that need. He will also add leadership to a very young team along with Prucha who could experience a renaissance in Hollywood. The Rangers in exchange get superstar Kopitar and scrappy and skilled youngster O'Sullivan.

 

Why trade Gomez?

It's the million dollar question and originally I thought it was ridiculous until my inside source opened my eyes. How good can Gomez really be with no ultra-talented wingers at his side? Sure Zherdev is skilled, but he is also untested.

By trading Gomez, they will get skilled wingers to go with one of the best centers of the last decade, Mats Sundin, who the team will now be able to sign.

The main reason why this makes sense is the following: what good is having all these skilled centers and no wingers?

The Rangers are in other words "screwed" when it comes to forwards and the salary cap and it's time to get some room. This trade will allow for that to happen, and just look at the free agent wingers on the market in the next few off seasons; Kovalchuk and Gaborik to name a couple.

These could be possible line combinations if the trade with Los Angeles (my personal favorite) works out.

Kopitar-Sundin-Zherdev

Naslund-Drury-Dawes

Callahan-Dubinsky-O'Sullivan

Voros-Betts-Fritsche

It's a deal I would be reluctant to make, but it is also necessary. Not only to be better financially, but better set to make a Cup run.

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61 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Aaron Brenker 10 months ago

    I can't comprehend how the rangers always stay under the cap. They may get Gaborik and Sundin, that's crazy. If that happens their cup bound in my opinion. All scenarios are excellent for Rangers fans. They should definitely trade Gomez.

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  2. TJ Ferguson 10 months ago

    if we can get gaborik that would be awesome, he's one of the games most lethal scorers

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  3. Alan Bass 10 months ago

    I cannot believe you used Hockeybuzz as a source, Greg. As someone who freaks out about them and Eklund, you should not be citing that in your articles.
    Anyhoo, I still don't think LA would trade Kopitar, for anyone, unless it's someone like Sid or Ovie, or even Geno.

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    • Greg Caggiano 10 months ago

      My source knew before hockeybuzz but since I can't reveal the name of my source, Hockeybuzz is as close as I can come...

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  4. Bernie Horowitz 10 months ago

    Any one of these scenarios would be great. The Rangers do have too many centers...

    I just wish it was Drury in these rumors, not Gomez. I just don't that Drury is worth what he's being paid. He's not going to score 90 points again. You could argue that he's paid extra for leadership, but since when do teams pay for leadership?

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    • Michael Stein 10 months ago

      Since the Rangers signed Brendan Shanahan for the past 2 years.

      Or the Canucks kept Trevor Linden around.
      Or when the Red Wings kept giving Chris Chelios one year deals.
      Or when the Sharks signed Jeremy Roenick.
      etc, etc, etc...

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    • G P 10 months ago

      Or they team that signs Mats.

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    • Bernie Horowitz 10 months ago

      Chelios, Roenick and Linden all made very little money. Roenick and and Chelios almost made the minimum. Drury almost makes the maximum salary. There's a big difference.

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  5. Jason Klau 10 months ago

    gaborik is injury prone, but if he can stay healthy, that'd be pretty damn good

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  6. Ryan McFadden 10 months ago

    "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

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    • Scott Quinn 10 months ago

      LMAO love BM and agree that all 3 of these trade rumours seem pretty far fetched. The Vancouver one is the only one that seems likely, there's no way I'd trade Kopitar or Gabby for Gomez, you'd have to add a lot of sweeteners to either of those deals.

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  7. Junior Nelson 10 months ago

    You would be getting cost certainty with Gomez. He seems to have six years left on his contract. The Vancouver part is pretty ridiculous. One Sedin is not realistic. It would be both or nothing. If the Rangers are getting a Swede from Vancouver they'll be getting a defenceman. Ohlund seems more likely than Edler. Trading a Sedin would cripple the team's top line.
    I also doubt the LA trade. Kopitar? Doubtful.

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  8. MR CONTROVERSY 10 months ago

    good article . if that happens i will be surprised . how ever , if they save money and get some one as good if not better , then hey that is awesome . gomez is the best guy to go . he isn't a real goal scorer . however he is a good assist man . definitely has a great eye for the open man . i rather have a goal scorer though . i hope that happens . but i can't see it going threw . i understand the la situation . but givingg up one of there best guys for gomez .. lol i don;t know about that . but would be greta if it did

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  9. Sammy Smith 10 months ago

    Wow, just wow. The Wild and Kings rumors are very lame. Keep wishing buddy. Maybe the Kings can throw in Johnson and two first rounders if the Rangers add a signed photo of Messier. My source says your an idiot. Sorry, can't reveal mine either.

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  10. dav 10 months ago

    Kings are not trading Kopitar and O'Sullivan is a RFA. You state the Rangers need wingers, but both these guys are centers. The deal with the Kings makes no sense for either team.

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  11. cb gb 10 months ago

    Are you absolutely insane?

    1) The Kings after they sign O'Sullivan, Stoll and Richardson are at the cap - enough about the "floor"

    2) Why in God's name, with Dean Lombardi getting YOUNGER would he trade Kopitar who is BETTER than Gomez, whom Dean Lombardi never wanted in the first place when he was a UFA, just turned 21 today and then you include O'Sullivan.... for Prucha?

    I thought the dumb deal of Kopitar for Khabibulin was the worst of the summer, but this one takes the cake.

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    • Robert Kraus 10 months ago

      omg, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, this would be the dumbest deal in history (outside of the NEELY and HULL fiascos). This deal will never happen. In fact all of your scenarios are thought up with the head up your a*s.
      Prucha will be playind in Russia or Slovakia by Christmas and Gomez is nor an elite player like Kopitar IS and O'Sulli could be.
      The fact that he makes 'elite player' money speaks more about the pressures GM's are under when a decent player reaches UFA status, NOT about Gomez's ablility. He's good, but he's not worth the money.

      BTW, I have another rumor for you: "due to a long term friendship, it's almost a certainty (as my source from Edmonton tells me) that Sather will ship Gomez and Prucha to Lowe for Gagner, Cogliano and Gilbert.

      Sounds reasonable? Maybe to a delusional Ranger's fan.

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  12. MR CONTROVERSY 10 months ago

    told ya sundin is going to africa to start a tree hockey league

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  13. Joe Correia 10 months ago

    I'd get in my car, and go honking in the streets and yelling if Sather somehow traded Gomez and Prucha for Kopitar and O'Sullivan.

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  14. MR CONTROVERSY 10 months ago

    just another great rumor on the sundin sega . lol lets see how many more ppl can find some more ...

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  15. Ken Armer 10 months ago

    Ill trade you one old fart (Mats Sundin) for your young Stud (Scotty Gomez) terrible choice by the Rangers to ditch Gomez for Mats.

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  1. Jason R 10 months ago

    All of those scenarios are SOOOO unlikely exactly for the numerous reasons stated that I just can't take this article or your "source" seriously.

    One Sedin wouldn't get traded, not going to happen nor do I see how Gomez for Sedin would be benneficial for Vancouver and is not remotely "money ball" enough for Gillis.

    The Wild rumour I'll give you a slight maybe but it only saves them about $1m, still not near enough to sign Sundin.

    The LA trade is just ludicrous, they're not going to give up Kopitar and your winger/centre argument is flawed here.

    No.

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  2. Grammar Police 10 months ago

    Kopitar is going nowhere. What are you guys smoking?

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    • Chris Bouthillier 10 months ago

      I was actually just about to write that exact same comment lol. Kopitar is the Kings' next Dave Taylor, he'll be leading that team for years to come. Don't be shocked to see him signed to a 7 or 8 year deal once his current contract expires.

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  3. Dylan Pilon 10 months ago

    One Sedin! AhhhhhhHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. AHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHA

    Dude, where do you get your sources? The latest transactions on your simulated 09 season in NHL 08?

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  4. matt easdown 10 months ago

    i think its pretty pathetic that poor old mats wants to play for the blue shirts, and for that to happen they have to go to young scotty gomez, who just signed with them last season, and ask him to lift his NMC in order to bring a 37-year old premadonna into the fold, thats an f'n disgrace.

    just hang them up bud! its over.

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    • Jason R 10 months ago

      It's only a RUMOR that he wants to go to NY. There was also a rumor that he for sure was going to sign in Van in the latter portion of July...see how truthful that was! ;)...lol

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  5. Greg Caggiano 10 months ago

    Laugh at me, make fun of me, but we will soon see who is right...

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  6. Keith Lundquist 10 months ago

    i don't know and dont care what will happen to Sundin, but i'm very doubtful that the rangers would give up a young, top-3 forward in Gomez just to gain a 37-year-old Sundin who doesn't possess any more playoff exprerience than Gomez. the line-up is already stacked and the Rangers are cup-contenders, so why shake-up the team??

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  7. matthew wallace 10 months ago

    Trading Gomez just to get a rental player in Sundin is pretty stupid. Again as I have stated a couple of times in different articles. when did Mats Sundin become the second coming of Gretzky the guy has never won ANYTHING! no cups no harts no scoring titles! If you want to trade Gomez for Gaborik then I say hell yeah make that deal, use the money Gomez was getting to sign Gaborik and build a team around him, Zherdev, and Chariponov next year. But trading Gomez to make room for Sundin for a year or two in hopes that the Rangers might win a cup is just stupid. Lets think this out ok Sundin 0 cups, Gomez 2 cups, Jagr who they let walk 2 cups, Shanahan who is probably walking 2 cups, just doesn't make sence. I think it is all just hot air anyway. I was bashed when I said the most logical trade choice was Naslund who has never done anything as a Ranger even dress and oh yeah by the way there is another 0 cup winner. Forget Sundin if anything they should have just kept Jagr.

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  8. J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago

    Gotta love these NY numbskulls who think the rest of the league is the minor league system.

    The Kings are not going to hand over Kopitar and O'Sullivan unless they are getting someone on par with Crosby or Ovechkin - and that ain't gonna happen either.

    But who are we to dissuade you from your fantasies?

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  9. chase ruttig 10 months ago

    The Sedin twins, will NEVER split apart at any point during their careers, I see them using the no-trade clause they should have

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  10. Zach Green 10 months ago

    Trading Gomez for Gaborik would be great and also the Rangers could be waiting until Sept 15th to sign Sundin so they could sign Sundin with bonuses to make his salary small so it isnt as huge of a cap hit

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  11. Chris Hoeler 10 months ago

    Everyone chill out....Greg posted a rumor from a source that he deemed to be credible. He got it wrong...so what? It was only a rumor so the chances of it actually happening were not very high. The fact Greg decided to share this information with you and put his neck on the line, knowing he would get this kind of response. Cut the kid some slack.

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    • John Trdi 10 months ago

      No. If you hear a rumor "Ovechkin for Zeiler" what do you do with it? Flush it down the toilet. If you are serious about your writing, you need to show some criticism. If you think Ovechkin for Zeiler is a real deal, then you don't have slightest idea about hockey and you should NOT be writing about hockey. Not even on your blog.

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    • Chris Hoeler 10 months ago

      but John this isn't that BAD. Gomez and Prucha for Kopitar and O'Sullivan....yes it may be a bit out there but what do we fans know? Look at the Coyotes. They got Olli Jokinen for Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton and a 2nd rounder when we fans were seeing proposals and rumors for much more. So maybe us fans wouldn't do a deal like this but GMs are in a different position and know much more about what is going on with their team than any of us do. Ovechkin for Zeiler is ridiculous but something like this certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility.

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  12. Roy Lee 10 months ago

    Sedins = Prucha and Gomez?? I think not, and by the way Kopitar has way more talent and potential than Gomez and the Kings definately will not trade him...i hope....in Lombardi we trust....

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  13. Junior Nelson 10 months ago

    The Canucks won't trade the Sedins. The Aquilinis are smart. Gomez would be the second line center here. I hope he likes to forecheck. Really, if the Canucks wanted a small playmaking center they could've kept Morrison.

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  14. Joe Alianello 10 months ago

    Wake up folks, anything is possible in todays NHL. This is simply just a rumor. Could the Rangers possibly be giving up more for a deal including Kopitar and O'Sullivan most likely is the answer. Maybe this deal does not even irk the possibility of signing Sundin. Maybe in all crazy thoughts Sather thinks Gomez at 7.35 mil a year is not worth keeping for another 6 years as he may never click with any of the Rangers wingers. Kopitar could click with Zherdev and with Cherepanov in the wings you never now. You people are like babies on here and freak out over a RUMOR. Think things through before you post. The chances of LA trading Kopitar....slim to nil but never say never.

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  15. Ranger Nation 10 months ago

    Official word from Ranger Nation (www.nyrnation.com)

    "The Rangers are not trading Scott Gomez. He has not even been discussed in ANY deals with ANY team around the entire league. Gomez was signed the last offseason with Drury to build a team around."

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  1. Mikey Tolvo 10 months ago

    That is a big if with Sundin

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  2. Bq Fry 10 months ago

    Greg, you are so clueless it is unreal. The Sedins for Gomez and Prucha is stupid. Do you really think that either Gomez or Prucha are that good? You have got to be kidding yourself. And the deal for Kopitar and O'Sullivan is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Congrats on realizing they have both played wing before. It still doesnt change the fact that O'Sullivan is better than Prucha and Kopitar is better than Gomez, and both King's players are younger.

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  3. adam wolff 10 months ago

    Everybody has to chill and relax. You guys all make it sound like it happend already. I am a huge Ranger Fan and this would be a very good trade for the Rangers but, you know that it would take a lot more than gomez and prucha to get kopitar and o'sullivan. How about Cherpeneov Gomez and Dawes for those 2 does that sound better?

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  4. Matt Ellenberger 10 months ago

    I really don't think Gaborik is going for Gomez deal is going down. The Wild are trying to get younger, they always are, and trading a 26 year- old Gaborik for a 28 year- old Gomez will do anything. Further more, we already have a first and a second line center in Koivu and Bouchard, and Gomez is a good first line center, great second liner.

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  5. Zach Green 10 months ago

    Read the bottom of this post

    http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/The-team-to-avoid-like-the-plague-in-your-fantas?urn=nhl,103595

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  6. Bob Singleton 10 months ago

    I read your blog for the first time. After reading that one of your sources is Eklund, you have officially lost all credibility.

    How is Kopitar and O'Sullivan even remotely equal to Gomez?

    Seriously. Stop it!

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  7. kurt risoen 10 months ago

    This has got to stop. All three scenarios are simply biased to the Rangers. You can't trade crap for gold. I would rather have either Sedin before Gomez. Gaborik is better than Gomez. And Gomez can't even hold Kopitar's jock strap not to mention throwing in O'Sullivan. Gomez scored only 16 goals last year with 54 assists!

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  8. kurt risoen 10 months ago

    Hey I trade you Simon Johnson for Ovechkin. Sounds as good as the rumors your creating!

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  9. Evan Szymkowicz 9 months ago

    this isn't going to happen, there is no truth to this article...sather would not scrap gomez (70 points last year) for a player ten years older than him, its completely insane, gomez will put up 65+ points for the next years to come easy. Vs the one to two years they'll get out of sundin. And for those of you saying gomez is trash (cough cough cough; 70 points while playing with slow line mates on a defense-first team in his first year is not trash, its good!) Your talking out of your rear if you think he's bad, gomez is going to flourish with zherdev and naslund, and your all going to be scratching your heads wondering what happened in good time

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  10. PJ Edelman 9 months ago

    Yikes! I've always believed that there are 3 untradeables on the Rangers: Staal, Lundy, and Gomez. I am standing by this theory. I'd rather have Gomez over either Sedin twin, Gaborik, and definitley Sundin. The only possible one I would consider, if I were Sather, would be Kopitar. I hope the Rangers keep Scotty. I also hope that you provide us with more possibilities: Nedved to play with the Rangers! Voros on the top line! Dubinsky elected for president!

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