Scott Gomez took a 25-game professional tryout (PTO) with the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hersey back on Jan. 14. Just 15 games in, the NHL club is eyeing him as a possible deadline addition to their roster.
Coach Barry Trotz was in Hersey on Sunday taking in a Bears game. He told NHL.com’s Katie Brown that Gomez is “on the radar.” He also said that they’d like to add a specialist of some kind — meaning faceoffs or penalty kill most likely — before the deadline, but “nothing crazy.” Gomez could fit the bill, providing some experience, depth scoring and a player who can kill penalties.
That plan is not surprising given a fairly tight cap situation and the team’s success so far. They’d take the opportunity to improve, but there isn’t much that’s not working for them right now.
Gomez came to the Bears on a PTO after he turned a PTO into a contract with the St. Louis Blues earlier in the season and then moved to have his contract terminated as the team got healthy. The move ensured that he wasn’t sitting in the AHL with no chance of playing meaningful NHL games later in the season.
In 15 games with Hersey, Gomez has scored four goals and 22 points. Since he’s on a PTO, he’s able to sign with another team should an offer come through.
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