SAN JOSE — San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier expects newly acquired forward Barclay Goodrow to be at the team’s training camp in September, even though he said the veteran is probably still processing his abrupt and unceremonious departure last week from the New York Rangers.
“When you’re an athlete, even though it’s a job and a business, there’s definitely an emotional element to it,” Grier said Monday in a pre-draft conference call with reporters. “And I think (Goodrow) and his family have kind of gone over the rawness of the situation, and I think the disappointment of the situation.
“But I think he’s someone who will be excited to get back to San Jose and be a part of the group.”
In a salary cap-related move, Goodrow was placed on waivers by the Rangers last Tuesday, something he reportedly did not become aware of until shortly before it happened. The following day, Goodrow was claimed by the Sharks, one of the 15 teams he had on his no-trade list.
According to the New York Post, Goodrow’s no-trade list teams included ones in “less-than-desirable locations” and non-contenders. Goodrow, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, has been part of playoff teams for seven straight seasons, including this past year when the Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference final.
Now he’s with the rebuilding Sharks, who are not expected to be playoff contenders anytime soon.
“From his standpoint, I think he was probably shocked about how things went down in New York. I know he enjoyed his time there,” Grier said Monday in his pre-draft meeting with reporters.
“When you look at it from his point of view, since he left, he’s won two Cups and played in two conference finals. So I think it was just a little bit of a shock to the system and something that was emotionally hard for him. But I think there’s some excitement to come back here and be around the group.”
Goodrow, 31, still has three years left on the six-year, $21.85 million contract he signed with New York in 2021. His deal does not include a no-movement clause, which allowed the Rangers to place him on waivers.
The Sharks had the first crack at claiming Goodrow since they finished last in the NHL’s overall standings this past season.
Goodrow’s deal carries a $3.64 million annual cap hit, a salary not problematic for a Sharks team with tens of millions in cap space. Grier was looking for players with Goodrow’s qualities as a hard-nosed leader who can take defensive zone draws and kill penalties.
Grier said he spoke with Goodrow’s agent, Ian Pulver, to lay out, “what the plan was, what we’re looking to do here, and how important he is to what we’re trying to accomplish and what we’re trying to build.”
Goodrow began his professional career with the Sharks 10 years ago and scored one the biggest playoff goals in team history in 2019.
In overtime of Game 7 of San Jose’s first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights, Goodrow took a pass from Erik Karlsson inside the blue line, skated toward the Vegas net, and scored around goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Sharks a series-clinching 5-4 win.
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Goodrow was dealt to the Lightning at the 2020 trade deadline for a first-round draft pick used on forward Ozzy Wiesblatt. Goodrow won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021, adding 12 points in 43 playoff games.
Goodrow has 169 points in 572 regular-season games for his NHL career and 24 points in 97 playoff games.
Grier is hoping Goodrow and forward Ty Dellandrea can help add to the “in your face” identity Grier wants the Sharks to have.
“It’s something we needed more of and we didn’t have enough of last year, and it’s kind of taken a little bit of time to build things back a little bit,” Grier said. “So that’s definitely important.”