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Canadiens send Scott Gomez home for the season, buyout coming this summer

Montreal Canadiens v New Jersey Devils

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 02: Scott Gomez #11 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 2, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Canadiens 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Scott Gomez’s time as a Montreal Canadiens forward is over.

GM Marc Bergevin addressed media this morning to say The Habs were sending Gomez home for the season, for the express purpose of buying him out this summer.

This is the safest route for teams to take with players they’re looking to use one of their compliance buyouts on, as injured players aren’t allowed to be bought out.

The downside for Montreal is Gomez’s $7.357 million cap hit -- it sits on the books no matter what this season.

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same strategy the New York Rangers will likely use on defenseman Wade Redden.

Gomez’s tenure in Montreal was an ugly one that saw him score just 21 goals in three seasons with the Habs.

His season last year was interrupted by injury and saw him play just 38 games. He has one more year left on his contract after this one with a cap hit of $7.357 million. His buyout this summer will cost the Habs $4.5 million.