Smart in Calgary, Dumb in Montreal

Flames sign defenseman Jay Bouwmeester for five years, averaging $6.6 million per year.

That's good work by Calgary general manager Darryl Sutter, on both money and term.

I've expressed doubts about Bouwmeester as a Great Leader of Men on Skates. But this is about the perfect fit for him.

With Robyn Regher and Dion Phaneuf taking care of the dirty work on the Flames blue line, Bouwmeester should thrive as a skater and assist machine.

What do you imagine the general manager said to Bouwmeester as they shook hands on the contract? Maybe something like, "I guess we're both out of excuses now."

Canadiens acquire center Scott Gomez and spare parts from Rangers for winger Chris Higgins and prospects.

With Saku Koivu about to depart as a free agent, Montreal presumably had an opening for a small, overpaid centerman who doesn't score much.

If Gomez (pictured) keeps producing at last season's 58-point pace, and if defensive prospect Ryan McDonagh turns into a real player in New York, Habs fans will run GM Bob Gainey out of town with torches and pitchforks.

The deal only makes sense if Gainey finds a scoring winger to convert Gomez passes, thereby turning him into the 80-point guy he was a few years ago.

Given that defensive fetishist Jacques Martin is Montreal's new coach, a more likely scenario is that Gomez does nicely on the power play, but otherwise looks no more effective than a dozen other guys making half as much money.

Higgins, meanwhile, becomes an instant fan favorite at Madison Square Garden, simply by being the man who greased the rails for Gomez' departure. Instead of his name, he should have "Not Gomez" printed on the back of his jersey.

Dumping Gomez and his $7.3 million salary cap hit opens oodles of free agent possibilities for New York.

(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)