While Scott Gomez' future with the Montreal Canadiens was determined on day one of training camp when GM Marc Bergevin sent him packing, Gomez' immediate future could get clearer by Thursday.

The NHL and NHLPA have come to an agreement on players being forced to stay home for salary cap reasons this season -- like Gomez.  But in order for this to kick in for Gomez, he'd have to be placed on waivers by no later than Thursday.

Here are the key points in the agreement between the league and the players' association:

Each team will have the option to use 1 of its 2 permissible compliance buy-outs this season (i.e. if the team uses 1 this season, the team could only use 1 more buy-out in total this summer and next). The following terms apply to accelerated compliance buy-outs:

All clubs can only exercise a maximum of 1 accelerated compliance buy-out

The player’s average annual salary (or cap hit) must be $3 million or more to be eligible

Player must be placed on waivers by no later than Thursday

If player clears waivers and is subject to being loaned, the club may provide the player with the option to be “bought out”, instead of being loaned. Before the buy-out can take place, the player must first give his written consent by no later than Friday

Club will owe player 100% of player’s pro-rated salary for this season, and 2/3 or 1/3 of player’s salary as applicable over twice the remaining term of the contract

Club’s buy-out payments for this year will be counted against the cap as if the player was playing outside the league under the new rules (team will receive a cap charge for salary over $900,000) – beginning with the 2013-14 season, club’s buy-out payments would not be charged against the club’s cap (which is the same as the compliance buy-out rules)

All of club’s buy-out payments would be counted against the players’ share in the year in which they are paid.

The bottom line for Gomez: he could be eligible for employment with another team this season and would not be forced to sit the year out.