Montreal, Rangers in seven-player deal

MONTREAL, June 30 (UPI) -- The Montreal Canadiens got Scott Gomez and two other players from the New York Rangers Tuesday for Christopher Higgins and three defensemen.

Gomez, who signed a seven-year contact with New York as an unrestricted free agent in 2007, had 16 goals and 42 assists last season to tie for the team points lead.

In nine seasons in the NHL, the Anchorage, Alaska, native has 148 goals and 430 assists in 706 games. He was the first Hispanic player drafted in the first round of the NHL draft.

Gomez won the Calder Award after the 1999-2000 season and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion.

Montreal also acquired forward Tom Pyatt and defenseman Ryan McDonagh in the deal. Neither player has played in the NHL.

Higgins, a five-year veteran, had 12 goals and 11 assists in 57 games last season with the Canadiens. Montreal also sent defensemen Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko and Doug Janik to New York.