Rangers Acquire Barclay Goodrow from Lightning, DeSimone from Vegas

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.