Scott Gomez says goodbye to hockey after 16 NHL seasons
Scott Gomez has decided to retire after 16 NHL seasons.
Speaking to Doyle Woody of the Alaska Dispatch News, Gomez didn’t want to look for another one-year deal like had done the last few NHL seasons. He also didn’t want to pursue an option that would leave him with little ice time at this point in his career.
So after 1,079 NHL games, 181 goals, 756 points, a Calder Trophy, an Olympic appearance, two Stanley Cup titles, and, per General Fanager, a little over $63 million in career earnings, the 36-year-old Gomez is ready to stay home in his native Airport Heights, Alaska.
“This has been my life,” he says. “It’s so weird to think I’m never going to play hockey again.
“People say, ‘You’ll find something.’ But saying that, there will never be that feeling again, of even playing a preseason NHL game. You’re playing at the highest level there is.
“But I’m done. I’m done.”
A first round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 1998, Gomez made his NHL debut during the 1999-00 season playing all 82 games and winning rookie of the year after a 19-goal, 70-point campaign. His first season in the league ended with Jason Arnott’s overtime goal that gave the franchise its second Cup.
Gomez would become one of the NHL’s top assist men over his first six years in the league. Whether at even strength or on the power play, he was constantly creating scoring chances for his teammates.
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In 2007, Gomez became an unrestricted free agent and joined the New York Rangers on a very rich seven-year, $51.5 million contract. He would put up 32 goals and 128 points in two seasons with the Blueshirts before being part of the 2009 deal with the Montreal Canadiens that brought current Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh to town.
Gomez’s production would start to decline and he’d begin to be affected by injury after missing no more than 10 games in a single season over the course of his first 11 years.
During his time with the Canadiens, Gomez experienced a major goal drought, going 53 regular season games and just over a calendar year without beating a goaltender until Feb. 9, 2012 against the New York Islanders.
The funk led to the launch of the site DidScottGomezScore.com.
From Montreal, Gomez went to San Jose for a season, then Florida, then had a reunion in New Jersey for the 2014-15 campaign. Last season, he earned a contract with the St. Louis Blues after joining them on a PTO during training camp. When the Blues’ lineup got healthy, Gomez and team parted ways before he later finished up playing 13 games with the Ottawa Senators.
Gomez, who worked in TV during the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring, may have something lined up again for this season, according to Woody.
“You’ve got to do something,” said Gomez. “I mean, I’m as good as anyone at laying around, but that’s the offseason. You’ve got to do something.”
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
