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The New York Rangers are making a roster move to work through some salary cap issues. New York placed alternate captain Barclay Goodrow on waivers, per Sports Net Canada. The move is viewed as a method for the team to open some salary cap space.
The Rangers can save more than $3 million if another NHL team decides to claim Goodrow from waivers, per USA Today. If he isn't claimed, the Rangers would have to pay him at least some of the money he is owed on his contract. New York is expected to be clearing salary cap space because of their upcoming needs in the 2024 NHL offseason. The Rangers are rumored to be wanting a first line right winger, or a puck-moving defenseman. It seems Goodrow isn't included in those plans.
What Goodrow has done in New York
Goodrow has been a mainstay of the Rangers for the last few seasons. He joined the team in 2021, after playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He posted at least 30 points in his first two years with New York. That changed this year, as he didn't have a productive regular season. The center went through the year with only 12 points. He also saw his time on the ice decrease compared to the previous two seasons.
In the playoffs, the veteran caught fire. He went through 16 postseason games with six goals and two assists. His plus-minus was +3 in the playoffs, and he found himself on the ice during critical moments. The highlight of the postseason for Goodrow was a goal he scored to win an overtime game in the Eastern Conference Final over the Florida Panthers. It seemed that he had turned the corner from a frustrating campaign.
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Now, it looks like his career as a Ranger is over. Goodrow could be taken from another team from waivers, which would certainly end his time in the Big Apple. That may not happen. If it doesn't happen, the Rangers could bury the center. That essentially means he would be sent to the franchise's minor clubs. The franchise could save more than $1 million if they did that, per USA Today.
Another option for Goodrow is for New York to buy him out of his contract. The window for that buyout process starts 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final is over. That would be hard to stomach for many Rangers fans, who have come to love the veteran. He also got a ton of praise from his coach during the team's playoff run.
“When you see somebody who does so many other things that helps the team be successful, you're really happy for a guy like that when you see him make a huge impact on the game,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said of Goodrow, per ESPN. The coach made those comments following Goodrow's thrilling game-winner in the Panthers series.
Time will tell what becomes of the veteran. Goodrow also skated for the San Jose Sharks, during his NHL career.
