Why Signing Scott Gomez is the Best Thing the Capitals Can Do
Scott Gomez has been playing out of his mind recently in Hershey. Though the first 16 games of his professional tryout contract with the Hershey Bears, Gomez has four goals and 19 assists for 23 points.
He also has been a key part of Hershey’s recently revived power play, with ten of his 23 points coming on the man advantage. But in nine games, Gomez’s tryout contract expires and he will have a big decision to make.
But there’s one option that makes the most sense for all parties involved: Have the Washington Capitals sign Scott Gomez.
At Hershey’s last home game Sunday night, press row was filled with scouts, with at least nine scouts from eight different teams were in attendance. Also in attendance was Capitals coach Barry Trotz, who told media Tuesday that Gomez is “on the radar.” Whether that means he’s on the radar for other teams or Washington is a bit vague, but the Capitals should be interested in Gomez.
Scott Gomez and Jakub Vrana share a laugh after a goal earlier in the season (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
On his second day with Hershey, Gomez said this: “I’m here to do my part, here to play hockey, here to help out as much as I can. It’s kind of what you learn; hockey from the older guys and you’re here to pass it down to the younger guys and help them out.”
That’s precisely what the 36-year-old has done. Since his arrival on January 14, at many practices and even in games, you can see Gomez giving tips to younger players that seem to truly help.
After many goals when Jakub Vrana is on the ice with Gomez, you see the joy in Vrana’s and Gomez’s face after the goal, always talking about something as they skate back to the bench.
Trotz expressed how important it is to develop players and win championships in the minors, and with a player like Scott Gomez helping out the Hershey Bears, that’s exactly what will happen. Washington could sign Gomez to a league minimum contract and assign him right to Hershey. The teams take a risk another NHL squad picking him up as he would have to pass through waivers before reporting back to Chocolate Town, but it’s a risk the Bears and Capitals should be willing to take.
The signing also provides a bit more depth down center for the Capitals, a position where they have been clearly lacking depth all year long. Other websites have broken down if Gomez makes a fit statistically, but there’s no real reason to look that deep into this signing if you take the simple reason why Washington should sign Scott Gomez: his experience.
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Caps don’t lack depth down center at all and just took on half of Mike Weber’s contract… at this point I think they need to stop adding pieces and just allow their excellent chemistry to do its work.
The last thing they need is yet another “leadership, gritty, do-things-the-right-way” veteran who will get outpaced and left in the dust.
Only way I would be sold on this is if there’s significant offensive potential.
This really is not a move for the Caps, but more for Hershey. And the Washington orginization is lacking at center. Hershey was down to 2 centers at one point in the season. If the Capitals want Hershey to succeed, they’ll do a deal like this. But if they don’t care how Hershey does, this affiliation will be over pretty quickly.
Definitely didn’t consider that… good points. Do you feel like prospects are getting enough ice time as is to warrant this signing though? I know Hershey has to put a winning product on the ice but veterans should not necessarily be the predominant presence in the top 6.
Actually, most teams that win the Calder Cup normally have one or two vets in their top 6. Gomez has been huge in the development of Vrana, Boyd, Barber, and Walker. They’ve hit a great groove right now and can only get better from here.
Yeah it’s really exciting. Didn’t the Hershey teams that won calder cups not just play, but feature and give large roles to Alzner, Carlson, Holtby, Green, Laich etc.?
We have been saying the same thing for over a week now. It would be a win win for both clubs. It would give the Caps more depth down the middle if there would be any kind of injuries. Gomez is good and the Bears have looked better since he arrived in Hershey.