Matt Karash: Scott Gomez? (flinching)

Honestly Colorado is in the same position (Without O'Reilly), Gomez on the cheap would be worth a shortened season 1M contract.

You are the first writer to make this mistake.

I bet Gomez is going to head back to Jersey for at least one season. He's been humiliated and has been out of sorts for the last couple years. He needs to go where everyone knows his name... and not how much he is making. He'll want to go back to the last place he was truly apprecieated.

I bet Gomez is going to head back to Jersey for at least one season. He's been humiliated and has been out of sorts for the last couple years. He needs to go where everyone knows his name... and not how much he is making. He'll want to go back to the last place he was truly apprecieated.
- flyler

Alaska?

Hey... we took Kaberle off your hands... Gomez is the least you could do!!

Was thinking the exact same thing, especially for the price. Very little risk, lots of potential rewards. Even if he's just a capable third line center who can handle a bit of PK then it's worth a look.

What makes you think Arnott is going to be so expensive? The season starts in four days and he is still unsigned. I would think he'd be just happy to get a solid paycheck after being locked out for several months.

Canes could muster up a 1 year, $2mil I'd think. They have a great track record with reviving careers of similar veterans (Whitney, Stillman, Weight, etc) that it might be an appealing destination for Arnott. Also, they need more size on the forward line, and Arnott certainly brings that.

What makes you think Arnott is going to be so expensive? The season starts in four days and he is still unsigned. I would think he'd be just happy to get a solid paycheck after being locked out for several months.

Canes could muster up a 1 year, $2mil I'd think. They have a great track record with reviving careers of similar veterans (Whitney, Stillman, Weight, etc) that it might be an appealing destination for Arnott. Also, they need more size on the forward line, and Arnott certainly brings that.
- Gossler1

I think 1 year for $2M is right at the edge of where Rutherford/Karmanos might stretch. I'd have to hunt down the details, but my hazy memory remembers reading an article saying that the Canes had $3-4M left in the budget BEFORE they signed Semin. This was basically what was needed to reach the old cap floor. So that means they are about $3-4M over budget right now. Also, this was before the uncertainty of a long lockout entered the financial picture and before the floor pretty much went away. So that would suggest no way will the Canes invest more salary $ at this time. I guess the flipside is that playoff hockey might be what's needed to resuscitate the hockey market and fan base and repair damage done by the lockout.

I think that is the low end of Arnott's worth. Unlike Gomez, Arnott carries a favorable impression with him and for the right price a decent number of teams would like to have him. He has a full tool bag of the good, fuzzy stuff...Sized, decent defensive/faceoff ability, bunches of playoff experience, leadership/experience, etc. Last year he played on a 1-year $2.5M deal. I have to figure he is worth about the same. With the cap coming down next summer, someone like him might even command a little more as long as he will take a 1-year deal that gets him off the books next summer.

My gut tells me that Arnott signs for 1 year at $2.5-2.7M or maybe 2 years at something like $4-4.5M total. I don't think the Canes will stretch that far.

Reeks of desperation

Reeks of desperation
- SotaPopinski

I disagree. I think Gomez has been demonized for the wrong reasons. It's not like the guy can't play at the NHL level. He's just not worth that huge contract he ended up with. And I think the more he struggled, the more pressure was piled on him to perform at a much higher level that he was illequipped for. The guy is human afterall. Could you imagine getting all that money and not being able to even come close to performing at a level reasonable enough to support your contract? The amount of stress you'd feel when every fan of not only the team you play for but all other teams as well are tearing you down? I think once the pressure is off he gets back to his former self. He's got his money now all the pressure is off and he can just sit back and enjoy the game of hockey again. He'll be given a chance somewhere.

At worst he's a decent 3rd or 4th liner.

I bet Gomez is going to head back to Jersey for at least one season. He's been humiliated and has been out of sorts for the last couple years. He needs to go where everyone knows his name... and not how much he is making. He'll want to go back to the last place he was truly apprecieated.
- flyler

Also be able to drink his sorrows away...

Plenty of teams could use another center, watch there be a mini bidding war for Scott (frank)ing Gomez!

Plenty of teams could use another center, watch there be a mini bidding war for Scott (frank)ing Gomez!
- Nucker101

Yes. But after being burned at the stake media/pressure-wise last year (arguably deservedly), I see about 0 chance he sets foot in a Canadian market or possibly even a big US hockey market. He already has $7M for this year and a good portion of that going forward a few years, so he's not hurting for money.

Think NJ where there are good memories. Otherwise think small/'no media microscope' markets in the US (i.e. Carolina, Nashville, etc.). And you could reasonably expect at his age he wants playoff possibilities which eliminates a few more teams. The bidding war just shrunk to at most about 10 teams and not all will be interested.

NO.

No more of this hiring mediocre/poor talent taking up depth spots while there are prospects in the AHL that could use the ice time. So sick of the Canes flushing out the bottom six with garbage.

NO.

No more of this hiring mediocre/poor talent taking up depth spots while there are prospects in the AHL that could use the ice time. So sick of the Canes flushing out the bottom six with garbage.
- BINGO!

Who would you try at third line center? I don't see any of our prospects filling that role. From what I have seen of Welsh in Charlotte, I don't think he is ready.

Putting one of the Checkers in the top 6 might be ok. Two could be asking for trouble.

Canes really need to go and get a defensive minded third line center to shore things up and make a realistic run at the division title.

first semin and now gomez? hurrishames.

Bob McKenzie just tweeted that the Canes are one of two teams kicking the tires on Gomez.

2 for 2 for Karash???

Bob McKenzie just tweeted that the Canes are one of two teams kicking the tires on Gomez.

2 for 2 for Karash???
- Gossler1

We'll see. These kind of predictions are always a long shot. But this move is classic Jim Rutherford. The list of underappreciated guys on the outs that Jim Rutherford got huge returns from started all the way back with Gary Roberts for those with a long Canes memory. How about Whitney, Stillman and Cullen on the Cup team. Samsonov since. Martin Gelinas. Joe Corvo. Who else is on the list? If I spent the time, I could probably make a top 20 list of Jim Rutherford reclamation projects.

It just makes too much sense and looks too easy to me.