The New York Rangers placed Barclay Goodrow on waivers Tuesday, a first step taken this summer in an effort to free up salary cap space in preparation for another deep playoff run next spring.
Goodrow agreed to a three-year contract with an average annual value of US$3.6 million. If he is claimed by one of the 31 other NHL clubs, then the Rangers will no longer have to cover his salary.
If Goodrow is unclaimed, then the Rangers could try to trade him, or buy out the last three years of his contract. A buyout would save them $3.9 million next season, $2.6 million in 2025-26 and $139,900 in 2026-27, before depriving them of $1.1 million for the next three seasons , until 2030.
Goodrow, 31, is a backup center who has had his share of long playoff runs, including the San Jose Sharks’ run to the Western Conference finals in 2019. He was a key part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s back-to-back wins in 2020 and 2021, and helped the Rangers reach the 2022 Eastern Conference finals — and the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, where New York lost to the Florida Panthers.
The Torontonian has 169 points in 572 regular season games, and 24 more in 97 playoff games since joining the Bettman circuit in 2014.
