New York had been looking to clear space under the salary cap and cut out a major contract that still has 5 years and $33.5 million left; the cap hit on Gomez' deal is $7.35 million.

"We're not up against the cap now," Rangers general manager Glen Sather said of the $56.8 million payroll ceiling for the upcoming season. "We've got lots of cap room. It just makes the options more inviting for us. I am not sure what is going to happen."

Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley, a natural goal scorer, has asked to be traded and could possibly land in New York. Forwards Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik are also attractive options that could be available on the free-agent market.

"Since this deal has happened, I've had three calls," Sather said of potential trades. "It doesn't take very long for people to recognize that you're going to make some changes."

Gomez, 29, was sent to Montreal with minor leaguers Tom Pyatt, a forward, and defenseman Mike Busto. Along with Higgins, the Rangers received defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko from the Canadiens.

Gomez never really found his stride in New York after leaving the New Jersey Devils as a free agent two summers ago. He is signed through the 2013-14 season, but is coming off a disappointing year in which he had 58 points, his fewest since he had 55 in the 2002-03 season.

Higgins, a 26-year-old forward from Smithtown, N.Y., is also coming off a sub-par season. He had a career-worst 23 points, including 12 goals, last season when he played in only 57 games due to injuries. Higgins had scored at least 20 goals in the previous three seasons.

Noteworthy

 

* The Calgary Flames have signed star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to a reported 5-year agreement worth $6.6 million per season.

The Flames acquired the rights to Bouwmeester from Florida on June 27 in exchange for Jordan Leopold and the 67th pick in the entry draft.

Bouwmeester, a native of Edmonton, played six seasons with the Panthers, recording 42 points on 15 goals and 27 assists last season.

* Veterans Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars, Chris Drury of the Rangers, the Red Wings' Brian Rafalski, Scott Gomez, now with Montreal, and Jamie Langenbrunner of the Devils were among 34 players invited to the United State's pre-Olympic training camp.

* Dallas has re-signed right wing Jere Lehtinen to a 1-year deal. The Stars gave the 36-year-old Lehtinen, who has spent his entire career with Dallas, a contract with a base salary of $1.5 million and the possibility of as much as $1 million in incentives.

Lehtinen had eight goals and 16 assists in 48 games last season. He has played in 817 games and has 497 points on 239 goals and 258 assists, and has won the Selke Trophy three times as the NHL's best defensive forward.

* The Devils have acquired center Ben Walter and future considerations from the Islanders in exchange for the rights to center Tony Romano. Walter had 20 goals and 30 assists in 65 games for Bridgeport of the AHL last season, while Romano is a Long Island native and was New Jersey's seventh choice in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He spent last season with Peterborough in the Ontario Hockey League.

* Chicago and restricted free agent center Dave Bolland have agreed on a 5-year contract. *