Gomez and redden?

[pizzakid13 5]

What happened to these guys? How two top players could fall completely apart and out of the league Is crazy. Was it personal issues? I find it bizarre.

[Law Goalie 147]

With Gomez, it really just seems like teams figured his game out, and everyone's too well-coached, well-informed by video, and too defensively disciplined to let him do his thing; he didn't adapt. He's a bit like Kaberle in that respect: both very, very good playmakers, but increasingly predictable, and thus decreasingly effective.

With Redden, there do seem to have been some personal issues, but let's face it: his best years were on exceptionally good Ottawa teams that had been built from the ground up to capitalise on his outlet game. After Chara and Karel Rachunek (and his temp replacement Greg de Vries) had left, and he was paired with Meszaros (Chara's former partner), his point totals and +/- began to drop. Redden and Rachunek were an awesome pair, so slick they were basically untouchable, though not exactly masters of the universe in front of the net; de Vries filled in decently; Reds and Messy had moments, but nothing like they had the previous season (05/06) with their prior partners. Basically, the Sens chose wrong in choosing to re-sign Redden instead of Chara, then tried to (very sensibly) trim Redden's contract down to that of a good second-pairing D, which was more of a hometown discount than he was wiling to give at the time; so he took a nice, fat Sather Special, left his carefully prepared soft seat in Ottawa, and was never the same again. It was just a debacle all around -- except for the Bruins, who gladly poached the best defenceman in the world and made him their captain.

[Chadd 916]

Neither was worth the big contracts that they signed and both are worth more than a lot of fans claim. In the right system, both could be effective and contribute on a winning team. I could easily see either one (especially Redden) on the Red Wings roster before the month is over.

[hamstercaster 2]

I'm pretty sure both Redden and Gomez will find work pretty quickly. I can see them sign a one year deal at a million bucks or less so they can prove that they can still play in the NHL and perhaps ink a better, longer deal next year.

[wrangler 157]

TSN reports they cleared waivers, which should be no great surprise:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413769

TSN previously reported that they were both assigned to minor-league teams before being put on waivers, which they say will reduce the cap hit by the minor-league salary.

[chippa13 1844]

Always tough to project. One has to wonder if Redden has a comeback season in him being over 35 and having spent the last two years riding the buses and a knee injury last season that forced him to miss two months.

[mcawesome 1]

I thought they were going to be asked not play/barred from playing minor league hockey because if they got injured, the teams would be responsible for the entire contract if they fell injured.

[chippa13 1844]

Glad to see you're keeping up with the latest news.

[wrangler 157]

I thought they were going to be asked not play/barred from playing minor league hockey because if they got injured, the teams would be responsible for the entire contract if they fell injured.

Putting them on a roster isn't the same as putting them on the ice.

[Leafsrule16 5]

I'm suprised honestly that a bottom feeding team near the cap basement didn't pick up one of these guys. Look at when Florida traded to get Brian Campbell and his big contract, I'm suprised someone didnt take a gamble on these guys. Gomez has 2 years left including this one, 2 years isn't really that bad of a gamble. I'm sure someone will pick up Tim Connelly though, I know if I had a bad team I would. Also, how come Rick DiPietro isn't being put on waivers? Is he injured or what? Because if they can have a buyout not going against cap, wouldn't it be great to take out a player who will probably be forced into retirement soon off the roster all together anyways?

[IPv6Freely 2096]

They probably will be picked up, as UFAs rather than on waivers.

[Chadd 916]

I'm suprised honestly that a bottom feeding team near the cap basement didn't pick up one of these guys. Look at when Florida traded to get Brian Campbell and his big contract, I'm suprised someone didnt take a gamble on these guys. Gomez has 2 years left including this one, 2 years isn't really that bad of a gamble. I'm sure someone will pick up Tim Connelly though, I know if I had a bad team I would. Also, how come Rick DiPietro isn't being put on waivers? Is he injured or what? Because if they can have a buyout not going against cap, wouldn't it be great to take out a player who will probably be forced into retirement soon off the roster all together anyways?

I don't think any team is so far below the salary floor that picking up Gomez, and paying him less than his cap hit, would have really made a difference. My guess is that if anything happens with DiPietro, will be in the summer. The problem is that he still has another 8 years on his contract. That is a lot to buy out for a team that loses money every year.

[chippa13 1844]

Plus, DiPietro is usually having surgery every summer and you can't buy out a guy when he is injured.

[Fury of One 6]

Hopefully, Glen Sather got some nice Christmas gifts from these guys.

[ibeck 38]

Hopefully, Glen Sather got some nice Christmas gifts from these guys.

He got his gifts when the deal happened in Mcdonagh as a redden replacement and last spring when kreider made the jump

[pizzakid13 5]

I hardly remember these guys even playing honestly, especially redden. I do remember him signing that big deal, that's about it. Drury was a FA that same year as gomez and he tanked also. Pretty weird stuff.

[Chadd 916]

Now that both are UFA, I would love to see the Hawks take a run at Gomez. They could use a playmaker on the second line. Maybe a 1 year $2M deal or something like that would be enough. With Kane Toews, Hossa, Sharp and Gomez you could plug in just about anyone in the last top six forward slot. A third line of Bolland, Frolik and Stalberg wouldn't suck either. They also have some young talent to work in for injuries and days off during the short season.

[Law Goalie 147]

Not a bad idea. I certainly don't think these guys are useless hockey players, though $2M might be slight overpayment for Gomez currently. On the other hand, if everyone else is lowballing him, that number could make an impression of confidence that wouldn't be unhelpful. Likewise, there are enough defencemen hurt around the league that Redden will get a job, but he really does need to think carefully about where he'll fit. Detroit might work really well.

[hamstercaster 2]

I think that Gomez and Redden will be ready to play for next to nothing just to have a chance to prove that they can still contribute to a team. I wouldn't be surprised if they took a million or less from a team they thought they would fit in good. These guys need not worry about money right now but about proving everybody wrong. If they can have a decent season then they can perhaps get a last 2 or 3 year, good money deal and then retire. If they screw this opportunity up, should it arise, then they may be forced into retiring at the end of this season.

[Stewie 721]

Neither was worth the big contracts that they signed and both are worth more than a lot of fans claim. In the right system, both could be effective and contribute on a winning team. I could easily see either one (especially Redden) on the Red Wings roster before the month is over.

Red Wings are strong at center. Redden could make sense however, but i really think they are playing towards a deadline deal, even with the squished season.

[wrangler 157]

Now that both are UFA, I would love to see the Hawks take a run at Gomez. They could use a playmaker on the second line. Maybe a 1 year $2M deal or something like that would be enough. With Kane Toews, Hossa, Sharp and Gomez you could plug in just about anyone in the last top six forward slot. A third line of Bolland, Frolik and Stalberg wouldn't suck either. They also have some young talent to work in for injuries and days off during the short season.

They may want to keep whatever cap room they have available, just in case it becomes important for the goalie position. And Bowman's certainly got more pressure to look good this year.

[hamstercaster 2]

According to Bob McKenzie, both Redden and Gomez have already received offers from teams. Someone else on Twitter was mentioning that Redden has received offers from a few teams and now has it narrowed down to a couple of teams. No team names mentioned though.

[adam14 182]

I could see the Oilers maybe making an offer at Redden.

[hamstercaster 2]

Redden signs with the Blues. $800 000 for one year (pro rated for shortened season) with a possibility to reach 1 million bucks with bonuses.

[Leafsrule16 5]

I really thought the Oilers would be in the front running on trying to get Redden. I'm sure he could have been a servicable top 6 d maybe even played on the second pairing (maybe too hopeful). Oh well, good to see him playing hockey again and curious of how he will be used and how he will perform.