The New York Rangers have made a couple trades on Saturday. The team announced they have acquired forward Barclay Goodrow from Tampa Bay in exchange for a 7th-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and have acquired a 4th-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and defenseman Nick DeSimone from Vegas in exchange for Brett Howden.
The Rangers get the rights to sign Goodrow, who can become UFA on July 28. He would be a solid addition the Rangers lineup as third-liner and penalty killer. There would certainly be demand for his services if he were to make it to the free agent market.
Chris Johnston is reporting there’s chatter that some teams are prepared to offer him a six-year deal if he hits the open market on July 28. Obviously, the Rangers are hoping not to have to go to those lengths to get a deal done. Popular analytics Twitter account @JFresh says of Goodrow: “a low-event bottom six forward who was kind of a “more than the sum of its parts” glue guy on a really good line.”
The Rangers wanted to be a tougher opponent to play against and Goodrow would likely help in that regard. Goodrow himself says he’s not a fancy player, but the report is he’s got the hockey sense to play with a variety of skill sets.
Can the Rangers convince Goodrow not to test free agency? If he’s keen on seeing what’s out there for his services, he might find a few teams eager overpay, even in a flat sap salary market that shouldn’t be paying depth guys term or money.
What would it take for the Rangers to get a deal done? Perhaps we’re about to find out. Some Rangers fans are saying the team fleeced the Lightning, but there’s as much a chance Goodrow doesn’t sign as there is one he does. Meanwhile, the Lightning were bound to lose him for nothing, so giving up a first-rounder to acquire him is largely irrelevant.
As for the Rangers acquiring Nick DeSimone from Vegas, the Golden Knights had to include a player to be compliant on their reserve list. His contract expires next week to become a free agent and he won’t sign with the team.
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