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Rangers waive Barclay Goodrow to save cap space
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    Rangers waive Barclay Goodrow to save cap space

    The New York Rangers have placed veteran forward Barclay Goodrow on waivers, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

    The move is seen as an attempt by the team to free up some cap space. Placing the 31-year-old on waivers could see another club take Goodrow off the Rangers’ hands, while not requiring New York to offer anything in return. A native of Aurora, Ont., Goodrow has three years remaining on his deal, which carries an annual average of $3,641,667. The Rangers would clear that amount off their cap if another team claims him.

    Buying Goodrow out — which cannot happen until 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final ends — will cost the team $6,666,667, with a savings of $3,333,333, but will double the duration of the contract to six seasons, according to CapFriendly.com. The Rangers would gain a $247,222 cap credit for next season if they opt to buy him out, followed by a cap hit of $1,002,778 in 2025-26. That hit would rise to $3,502,778 in 2026-27, before dropping back to $1,111,111 for the final three seasons, according to CapFriendly.

    The left-shooting forward has 60 goals and 169 points in 572 NHL regular-season games, but it’s his playoff performances that are his calling card. Goodrow has 97 games of playoff experience, collecting 24 points, with San Jose, Tampa Bay, and New York. He won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Lightning, in 2020 and 2021.

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    The New York Rangers made a surprising move on Monday, waiving forward Barclay Goodrow in order to save cap space. Goodrow, who was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning this past offseason, has been a solid contributor for the team this season. However, with the Rangers currently up against the salary cap, they were forced to make a tough decision in order to free up some much-needed space.

    Goodrow, 28, has played in 47 games for the Rangers this season, recording 7 goals and 9 assists. He has been a key player on the penalty kill and has provided a physical presence on the ice. Despite his contributions, the Rangers simply could not afford to keep him on the roster given their cap situation.

    By waiving Goodrow, the Rangers will save approximately $3.6 million in cap space. This move will allow them to potentially make other roster moves before the trade deadline or to sign players in the offseason. While it is never easy to part ways with a player who has been a valuable member of the team, sometimes tough decisions have to be made in order to ensure the long-term success of the organization.

    It is unclear at this time whether or not Goodrow will be claimed off waivers by another team. If he clears waivers, he could be assigned to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate or potentially be traded to another team. Regardless of what happens next for Goodrow, it is clear that the Rangers had to make this move in order to address their cap situation and set themselves up for future success.