With the upcoming summer being so important for the New York Rangers, general manager Chris Drury is taking smart moves to bolster the team’s championship hopes. In order to add impact players, Drury must successfully manage the salary cap, which is a plan they are currently implementing. A strategic decision by Drury was the recent waiver of veteran Barclay Goodrow, which allowed the team to avoid a cap hit of $3.642 million. By extending Goodrow’s contract into the 2026–27 offseason, the team was able to free up salary cap money, which could be the deciding factor in trading for other players.
Goodrow fared very well in the playoffs, scoring six goals in sixteen games, despite having a dismal regular season with eight assists and a plus/minus of thirteen. The difficulty of waiving him is brought to light by this act. Even New York Post reporter Larry Brooks called the decision to waive Goodrow “ruthless” because he had a no-move clause that encompassed 15 teams, including the San Jose Sharks. The Rangers’ decision to prioritize building a competitive squad above player relationships based on sentiment is highlighted by the Sharks’ claim of Goodrow off the wire.
In order for the Rangers to be in a championship contention, Drury and the higher-ups decided that Goodrow’s $3,641,667 cap hit (through 2026–27) needed to be removed off the books. Therefore, they behaved icy. The Rangers, who could really use a new offensive threat, have a lot of options to choose from this offseason. Important players like Igor Shesterkin and Ryan Lindgren will also have their contracts extended by the club. Drury is free to be more imaginative and less constricted in his approach to team building for the next season because to the additional financial flexibility obtained following Goodrow’s departure.
