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Just when you thought the Ottawa Senators were done making questionable moves, they went out and signed Scott Gomez to a professional tryout contract
Sens are signing Scott Gomez.
— Wayne Scanlan (@HockeyScanner) March 2, 2016
Gomez will sign for the rest of season.
— Wayne Scanlan (@HockeyScanner) March 2, 2016
Gomez here on a PTO.
— Wayne Scanlan (@HockeyScanner) March 2, 2016
Gomez surprised many by exercising his contract exit clause from the Hershey Bears yesterday despite being one of the Bears' best offensive players. He must've had a deal in the works with the Sens to come join them.
This news comes on the heels of learning that Clarke MacArthur would not be returning to the Sens for another two weeks:
A dissapointed Clarke MacArthur said he failed his base line test and has to wait another 2 weeks to take it again.
— Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) March 2, 2016
The contract is one-way, worth $575k pro-rated. Gomez's most recent NHL hockey was with the St. Louis Blues on a PTO earlier this year. In 1066 career NHL games, the 36-year-old has 181 goals and 574 assists. Likely this means either Nick Paul or Matt Puempel will be returned to Binghamton for the remainder of the season.
Should the Sens make the playoffs, Gomez would not be able to play in them.