SAN JOSE — Barclay Goodrow is a success story of the Sharks’ developmental system. He’s worked his way from being an undrafted free agent who signed with the Sharks in 2014 to a player now most trusted to hold down the injury-riddled team’s No. 1 center role.
Given his versatility and his modest cap hit, Goodrow figures to be a player that fits the Sharks now and in the future, as general manager Doug Wilson often says.
So it is a bit of a surprise to see Goodrow’s name on TSN’s most recent ‘trade bait’ list.
There’s been no indication the Sharks are looking to trade Goodrow. But it’s easy to see why contending teams would have some interest.
Going into Friday’s game with the Winnipeg Jets, Goodrow’s already set personal bests in goals (eight), points (23) and average time on ice (15:51).
Since Tomas Hertl’s Jan. 29 knee injury, Goodrow has played over 19 minutes in four of the last five games. The one exception being was the Sharks’ Feb. 4 game with the Calgary Flames, where Goodrow served a five-minute major for fighting Milan Lucic.
Goodrow is also in the first year of a two-year deal that carries an average annual value of $925,000 — perfect for any cap-strapped team.
“It’s not really something to think about,” Goodrow said of the rumors surrounding the Sharks before the Feb. 24 deadline. “We’re focused on winning hockey games, that’s the one focus, that’s the only focus. I can’t speak for other guys, but for myself, we’re focused on the next game.”
Included on that ‘trade bait’ list are defenseman Brenden Dillon, and forwards Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Although those players might not all be dealt, it stands to reason that Wilson will recoup some assets for at least one or two Sharks players who are slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer.
Thornton was included on that list for the first time earlier this week. Of course, the only way he will be dealt is if he approaches Wilson at some point in the next 11 days and gives his necessary blessing to be traded to a contender. Recent reports indicate that both Boston and Tampa Bay have had internal discussions about acquiring Thornton.
While Thornton’s future in the NHL beyond this year is uncertain, Goodrow, it would seem, will be a part of the Sharks’ top six or top nine forward group for next season.
He’s played every forward position for the Sharks this season and right now, with both Logan Couture and Hertl out of action, he’s the team’s top line center in between Evander Kane and Patrick Marleau.
“He’s got a lot of responsibility on his plate right now, and his response to that has been very, very solid,” Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner said of Goodrow. “He knows he’s got that assignment every night to play against the top lines. It’s not easy when you go back and forth between wing and center all the time, but I think he’s done a real good job of being able to get his wingers to commit to playing the right way.
“He’s a staple on our penalty kill. He’s got that tough assignment every night in the faceoff circle against their top guys. He’s done a great job. It’s nice to have a guy that’s versatile that can go in and replace guys that can replace (Hertl and Couture).”
The experience of playing top line minutes right now and being a top six forward for most of the season should benefit Goodrow, 26, in the long run. Although he may not be a 25-30 goal scorer every season, he has shown he can be a two-way forward that logs heavy minutes.
“He’s a responsible player and I think that rubs off on guys,” Boughner said. “He’s constantly being that guy that’s, I guess you could say, more careful in the offensive zone. He wants to be the third guy, he wants to be high (in the offensive zone).
“To be able to track and be able to cut off entries and rushes. He’s always the first guy back down low. He allows his wingers to play with a little more stability.”
Friday, it would appear Goodrow’s line would have to log a lot of minutes against the Jets’ top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine.
“It’s about playing the way we’re built to play, playing the way we’ve kind of been stressing all year,” Goodrow said. “The details, the little defensive zone things, the turnovers. You don’t really need to do too much, but you have to be aware of when those guys are on the ice. Just know that you can’t make those little mistakes that good players feed off of.”
