The Ottawa Senators have signed Scott Gomez to a contract for the remainder of the 2015-16 season after the center was released from his AHL contract. Gomez was previously with the St. Louis Blues in the NHL this season, and he also played for Hershey of the American Hockey League.
The center was released by the Blues earlier this season, after which he signed with Hersey and appeared in 18 games. Gomez was on a "Professional Try-Out" contract with Hershey, and he opted to exercise his buyout to become a free agent after signing with the team in January. Ottawa signed Gomez to a deal worth $575,000 for the rest of the season.
The Senators are hoping that Gomez can help the team make a playoff push, as they are just outside the postseason standings in the Eastern Conference. The 36-year-old had four goals and 24 points in 18 games with Hershey, helping the team get to first place in their division. Gomez had one goal and eight points in 21 games with the Blues in his stint with the team earlier in the season.
The Senators felt that they needed to add some depth at the center position with Kyle Turris dealing with a high ankle sprain. Turris is out indefinitely for the team and has no set return date for the injury. Gomez gives the team a replacement option at the position, as well as a player with a ton of experience. He has played in over 1,000 in NHL games in his career while playing with the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers and Blues. Gomez has also won two Stanley Cup titles in his career with the Devils.
The Senators are currently in fifth place in the Atlantic Division standings and are not in playoff position. The team is five points back of the second wild card spot with 67 points, tied with the New Jersey Devils. The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently in the second wild card spot with 72 points. The Senators would have to leap over the Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers and Penguins over the next month to make it into the postseason.