Barclay Goodrow’s time in New York has officially come to an end.
The veteran center has been claimed off waivers by the San Jose Sharks, getting the Rangers off the hook for the remainder of his contract, and allowing him to return to where his career began.
Mollie Walker of the New York Post indicated on Tuesday night that there was potential for an under-the-table handshake agreement between the Rangers and San Jose to pull this move off, and now it's official.
GM Chris Drury said during his end-of-season news conference that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to this core as he looks to improve this roster over the offseason, and Goodrow is now the first big domino to fall.
New York acquired Goodrow’s rights from the Tampa Bay Lighting prior to the 2021-22 season, and they quickly locked him up a seven-year deal.
The 31-year-old had been a steady penalty-killer and member of their fourth line, but his offensive production took a major dip this season, as he posted career-lows across the board with just 12 points.
Goodrow made up for it during the postseason, scoring six times, including the game-winner in a Game 2 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final, but that didn’t prove to be enough for Drury to want to keep him around.
With his cap hit sitting at $3.6 million heading into the 2024-25 season, the front office decided to move on, affording themselves some flexibility and likely giving some of their younger talent an opportunity in the bottom six.
Goodrow now heads back to San Jose, a team that gave him his first pro opportunity, and he’ll look to bring some much-needed veteran leadership to their young up-and-coming lineup.