Fourth liner Barclay Goodrow is a good fit

When the Barclay Goodrow contract was announced, there was a collective groan from the fanbase. Not about the player, as he is ok and brings an element to the team they needed (locker room culture, which does, in fact, matter). It was about the contract duration. Six years was way too much, and almost instantly people began taking it out on Goodrow. His poor start to the season didn’t help. But after Monday night, fourth liner Barclay Goodrow was a good fit, and should be his role going forward.

Dryden Hunt has earned his spot in the top nine, and is going to be the new Colin Blackwell in that regard. He’s been a terrific role player for the team thus far. Thus fourth liner Barclay Goodrow was inevitable, and quite frankly, it’s where he belongs. This was likely the long-term solution as the Rangers looked to get a little more skill in the top nine. Goodrow isn’t an offensive dynamo, but he clicked well with Ryan Reaves and Kevin Rooney, grabbing an assist the other night.

Fourth liner Barclay Goodrow isn’t an insult to him, as the Rangers fourth line has been stellar. Reaves and Rooney have, rather surprisingly, been a solid duo. Hunt clicked with them, and after one game it looks like Goodrow has as well. This is the kind of fourth line that is reminiscent of the Boyle-Moore-Dorsett trio. They don’t look pretty, but they get the job done.

Gerard Gallant has a history of getting the most out of his players, specifically Reaves included. Reaves’ age may make it an interesting piece to watch, to see where the human factor sets in. However even then, the Rangers can go Hunt-Rooney-Goodrow, which is, in theory, still a good fourth line.

Now, a 96.42% expected-goals share isn’t going to be the norm for the fourth line. They absolutely owned the Isles in every aspect of the game, and earned their two goals. But it is worth noting that Goodrow has had a 50% expected goals share or more (I’m rounding up on 48.19% against Toronto, which was a 0.35 xGF to 0.38 xGA, marginal difference) in his last five games. That does include his stint on the top line, where he clearly wasn’t a fit.

Like it or not, the Rangers need Goodrow to be a positive contributor if they want to win. Clearly Tampa thought he was needed for their two Cup wins, but cut bait when he got too expensive. Contract aside, Goodrow can be a positive piece in a Cup winning formula. Even if it is fourth liner Barclay Goodrow.