Barclay Goodrow placed on waivers by Rangers, could have contract bought out

Barclay Goodrow was placed on waivers by the New York Rangers on Tuesday. If he’s claimed by another team, his $3.64 million salary cap hit for the next three seasons would come off the Rangers books.

This move immediately frees up $1.15 million, increasing the Rangers’ projected cap space this offseason to $11.2 million.

If no team claims the 31-year-old forward, it opens the door for Rangers general manager Chris Dury to buy out Goodrow’s contract after the Stanley Cup Final is completed, which would take his entire salary off the books for next season and give the team a small cap credit, although they would be on the hook for dead money on the cap, including $3.65 million in 2026-27 , though it wouldn’t be nearly as much in 2025-26 or in later years.

Rangers waive Barclay Goodrow to create salary-cap space

This is not the most unexpected move for the Rangers. Though coming off a very strong postseason when he scored six goals and netted the overtime winner in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, Goodrow is simply overpaid for what his role is, especially with New York so tight against the cap.

He’s been donned a “16-game player” for how well his game translates to the postseason, an area he has ample experience in with 97 games played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

As a member of the San Jose Sharks in 2019, Goodrow scored the OT winner in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round against the Vegas Golden Knights, completing a comeback after trailing the series 3-1.

He then helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021 as a member of a tone-setting third line alongside Yanni Gourde and Blake Coleman.

He’s been a valuable asset for the Rangers when the postseason rolls around, too. He scored six goals and had eight points in 16 playoff games this spring.

Goodrow has totaled 76 points and 28 goals in 241 regular-season games with the Blueshirts, spanning three seasons. After scoring 10-plus goals and 30-plus points in each of his first two seasons in New York, the first time in his career that he’d achieved either mark, Goodrow’s production fell off a cliff this past season, when he scored four goals and 12 points in 80 games.

He shot past his goal total in 16 postseason games, however, and has recorded seven goals and 10 points in his 30 Stanley Cup playoff games with the Rangers.

Goodrow has served as an alternate captain for all three seasons with the Rangers. Though his tenure in New York is not officially over yet, the decision to place him on waivers indicates that the organization would like to get out from under his contract and potentially use the space to further upgrade the roster.

It’s not unrealistic to think a team might find value in Goodrow’s veteran presence and postseason resume and claim him. The Rangers saw value in him three years ago and gave him a large contract with hopes he could provide just that. Two conference final visits in three seasons speaks to his value.

His most recent postseason certainly showed that Goodrow still has plenty to give to any Cup contender that might want him.

But for now, he’s in limbo and the Rangers plan to move ahead with him.

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