San Jose Sharks forward Barclay Goodrow didn’t join the team under the best of circumstances. The entire NHL is privvy to how the New York Rangers parted ways with Goodrow and how the Sharks picked him up off of waivers. That said, Goodrow just finished his first season back in teal and talked to the media about his commitment to the Sharks, what he feels the team needs to improve on in the offseason and how he feels about the team’s rebuild.
Goodrow on his season with the Sharks
“It was a grind at some points. I think frustrating at some points. I think we were a lot better of a team. We competed harder. We were in mostly every game, but our record didn’t necessarily show that. [I] see there’s lots of signs of encouragement and things that show we’re heading in the right direction. It’s going to be an exciting offseason. Definitely exciting coming back this year.”
On getting a little more rest this offseason since he’s not competing in the postseason
“I think I have played a lot of hockey in the last six years, deep runs. When you do that, the summer is … a lot of focus is on rehabbing, recovery, trying to get your body back to somewhere in decent shape, where you feel good heading into camp. But I am looking forward to being able to really press it heading into the offseason fully healthy, and being excited to get back and get to work on things, improve things that I feel like maybe have slipped over the years just by not working at it. So yeah, I think for me personally, a long offseason is a good thing.”
Goodrow on what his pitch to free agents would be to get them to play in San Jose
“It’s a great place to play when we’re winning, when the building’s full. And people … I think the fans here … I think Logan said it perfectly at his press conference, it’s maybe not necessarily the biggest hockey fans, but they’re the biggest Sharks fans, and they support the team very well. Obviously, with the team not winning as many games the last few years, you can feel the drop off of the building. Once we turn it around, which I think we will next year, we’ll see a change in the building. It’s a great place to live, great place for me now with the son; it’s a great place to raise children. So, there’s a lot of great aspects. You can see why Jumbo, Patty, all these guys stay here their whole career, Logan, because it is a great spot to play.”
Goodrow on how he assesses his season
“[It] could have been better. Like I said, looking forward to a long offseason to reset, work on a lot of things in my game that I feel like have flipped from maybe where they were in the past.”
One thing the Sharks need to concentrate on in terms of getting better next season
“I think it’s overall growth. When you’re going through a rebuild, you’re gonna have seasons like this. I think, if you try to rush things and do things that might help you in one season, but won’t necessarily help you down the line, that’s when a rebuild gets all screwed up. So just continue to grow. Obviously, I think every one of the young guys that played this year, you can see them get better throughout the year. You can see them get more comfortable. So I think going to a full offseason, especially they know what they need to work on to be even better at the NHL level, I think you’ll see big improvement in them. Just continuing to set the culture here where losing isn’t acceptable, and get everyone in that mindset that winning is the most important thing, just doing whatever you can to help with that.”
How do the Sharks ensure that the team has the right culture?
“It’s on the older guys to decide. It’s on the younger guys to jump, they’ll be, obviously, the face of the team for the next decade or so. So, it’s on them to help set it. Realistically, we want the culture to be where guys come into work every day, they work as hard as they can possibly work. Team always comes first. You want teams heading into game thinking, ‘Oh no, we’re playing the Sharks, this is gonna be a tough one.’ So it’s a group effort to change it around.”
Would you agree that the Sharks have earned the respect of other teams?
“I would say, we’re getting there. I think you could see games throughout the year where everyone’s on the same page, where we’re playing the right way. We’re playing smart hockey, simple hockey. I think we caught a lot of teams by surprise. Testimated us, and not all those led to wins, but we were in one goal games, tie games late in the third period. It’s a work in progress. Going through a year where you only have 20 wins, it kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth heading into the offseason and should drive everyone to work harder, to be better, come back and be better.”
On what he, Goodrow, wants to work on in the offseason
“There’s a bunch of things.”
Considering the circumstances that brought him to San Jose, is he committed to the Sharks?
“I been committed since the second I got here. I’m not a person that can have one foot in, one foot out. I was committed from the beginning. That was never an issue.”
How comfortable are you with the progress the Sharks have made so far?
“I think we got better as the season went along. That’s all I can ask for. Obviously, it’s gonna take more time to think see a finished product, but I think all signs are pointing that we’re going in the right direction.”
On personally adjusting to a different team setting coming from so many winning teams
“It’s a grind. I think the most frustrating thing is we were so close, we were so close. So many games that could have gone a different direction. We blew a ton of third period leads. We just didn’t hold on to games where we could have won. So it kind of leaves … it’s almost more frustrating when you lose that way than if you’re getting blown out every night and thinking, ‘Oh my god, we’re so far off.’ But we were right there. It’s something that needs to be improved on next year.
“I think when you are losing, you count on the guys around you, and we have a great group of guys here. It’s a lot of fun coming to the rink every day. Everyone worked extremely hard. No one gave up or gave in when it was late in the season. You’re not playing for much, but everyone came in with a great attitude. Really bought in for doing it for the team, and when everyone’s on the same page. From that aspect, it makes things a lot better.”
