The Sabres should steal this forward from the Rangers.
The Sabres should steal this forward from the Rangers.
The New York Rangers made a significant roster move on Tuesday afternoon, placing forward Barclay Goodrow on waivers. While Goodrow has been a nice part of their bottom six and a good leader, his $3.64 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season is just too large for a team with limited cap space like the Rangers.
Earlier this week, The Hockey News Buffalo's Michael Augello argued that Goodrow could be a good trade target for the Sabres. Yet, now that Goodrow is available to take on waivers, they should seriously consider claiming him.
Goodrow is exactly the kind of forward that the Sabres could use. For starters, the 31-year-old is well known for his outstanding leadership skills, which is why he is an alternate captain on one of the NHL's best teams right now. In addition, he won two Stanley Cups while with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the Sabres looking to end their 13-year playoff drought, he would be a very good player to add.
The Sabres' bottom six is also due for a makeover this summer. Zemgus Girgensons, Tyson Jost, Eric Robinson, and Victor Olofsson all have expired deals and are expected to walk. Thus, with the Sabres needing some help in their bottom six, a hard-nosed veteran like Goodrow should grab their attention.
If the Sabres signed Goodrow, he would be a solid addition to their fourth line. His steady defense would also make him an excellent option for the Sabres' penalty kill if signed. In addition, the Sabres need more bite, and Goodrow would surely give them that with his physical style of play.
Goodrow appeared in 80 regular-season games this year, posting four goals, eight assists, 78 penalty minutes, and 170 hits. While he struggled during the regular season, he picked up his play significantly during the playoffs, recording six goals, eight points, and a plus-3 rating in 16 games.
While Goodrow's cap hit is a bit high for his role, the Sabres have the cap space to take a gamble on him. It will be intriguing to see if they do just that from here.
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