New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider expressed surprise and disappointment over Barclay Goodrow’s departure from the team earlier this summer, highlighting the emotional side of the business of hockey.
Goodrow, who had become a close friend and reliable teammate, was waived by the Rangers in mid-June and subsequently picked up by the San Jose Sharks, which relieved New York of his contract. Goodrow still has three years left on his contract with a cap hit of approximately $3.64 million.
Following Goodrow’s exit, the Rangers used the freed-up cap space to secure a two-year, $4.4-million contract for restricted free-agent defenseman Braden Schneider. The team also needs to work on extensions for other key players, including defenseman Ryan Lindgren and star goalie Igor Shesterkin, who is due for a raise over his current $5.67-million cap hit.
In addition to these moves, Rangers general manager Chris Drury made further roster adjustments by acquiring winger Reilly Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Pittsburgh retaining 25% of Smith’s $5-million salary. The Rangers also signed center Sam Carrick to a three-year, $3-million contract. Currently, the Rangers have about $5.1 million in projected cap space.
Kreider and Goodrow had spent three seasons together on the Rangers after Goodrow joined the team in July 2021 on a six-year, $21.85-million deal. Despite Goodrow’s previous tenure with the San Jose Sharks, where he spent the first six years of his career, the Sharks were initially on his 15-team no-trade list. However, after a successful first season in New York, where Goodrow recorded 13 goals and 33 points, his performance dipped in the most recent season.
He managed only 12 points in 80 regular-season games while playing in a bottom-six role. Nevertheless, Goodrow made significant contributions during the playoffs, tallying six goals and eight points in 16 games, helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Reflecting on the Rangers’ postseason, Kreider admitted that he watched the Stanley Cup Final despite typically avoiding it. He found it difficult, given that the Rangers were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in six games, who then went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Kreider had a strong playoff performance, with eight goals and 12 points in 16 games, following a regular season where he ranked second on the team with 39 goals and third with 75 points.
In conclusion, the departure of Goodrow marked a significant moment for the Rangers, emphasizing the tough decisions that come with managing a competitive team in the NHL. Despite the changes, the Rangers continue to focus on building a strong roster for the future.
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