Rangers waive Barclay Goodrow in first huge shakeup after playoff ouster
The Rangers’ need for cap space ultimately outweighed the immeasurable contributions the team received from Barclay Goodrow in the playoffs, which forced the organization to place the utility forward on waivers on Tuesday as its first major change of the offseason.
It was a move that can be boiled down to Goodrow’s $3,641,667 per year price tag that simply wasn’t justifiable for a 31-year-old fourth-liner who does not produce nearly as much as the cap charge commands.
There’s no question the Blueshirts got their money’s worth in the postseason, where Goodrow has branded himself as a clutch performer through two Stanley Cups with the Lightning and two runs to the Eastern Conference Final with the Rangers.
He has also been the versatile, do-it-all player who excels in the dirty areas of the game the Rangers needed him to be when they signed him in July 2021.
There was a reason they stitched the “A” onto his No. 21 jersey the moment he walked through the locker room doors.
His six goals and two assists in 16 impactful playoff games this season, however, couldn’t override how much his contract limited the Rangers financially.
By placing Goodrow on waivers, the Rangers allow themselves some cap flexibility no matter what happens.
Though there is belief there is a pre-arranged deal for the Sharks to claim Goodrow, who spent the first six seasons of his NHL career in San Jose.
With three years remaining on the six-year, $21.85 million deal president and general manager Chris Drury signed him to, which includes a 15-team no trade list, Goodrow would come off the Rangers’ books entirely if he is claimed.
Though teams would likely rather wait for the Rangers to buy him out and sign him to a cheaper deal.
If Goodrow clears, the Rangers could buy him out between 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final ends and June 30.
A Goodrow buyout would give the Rangers a cap credit of $247,222 in the first year, but it would become a dead-cap charge of $1,002,778 the next season before they are dinged with a $3,502,778 hit in 2026-27.
There’s also a lingering $1.111 million charge over the following three seasons.
This would leave the Rangers with roughly $15.549 million of cap space entering free agency on July 1 with a shadow roster of nine forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders, which does not include impending restricted free agents Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider, or bubble forwards Matt Rempe, Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom.
The cap charge, term and modified no-trade clause that came with Goodrow’s contract made this an anticipated move.
Shedding Goodrow, one way or another, was always going to be the quickest and easiest way to alter the complexion of the Rangers’ core.
The Toronto native posted some of his lowest career numbers in a nearly full regular season in 2023-24, accumulating just four goals and eight assists to go along with 78 penalty minutes, the second-most he’s ever had.
After finishing plus-13 and plus-three in his first two seasons in New York, respectively, Goodrow finished minus-13 this season while averaging just 12:33 of ice time per game.
This was only the first of presumably several tough — but necessary — decisions the Rangers will have to make this offseason.
Change has officially arrived for the Blueshirts.
