 On June 30, 2009, the Rangers traded Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko and Doug Janik.With Gomez's contract and salary cap hit gone, the Rangers then signed superstar Marian Gaborik on July 1, the first day of free agency.In the 2009–10 season, the Rangers failed to make the playoffs for the first time in five years.