The New York Rangers put Barclay Goodrow on waivers Tuesday, the first step of an offseason plan to clear salary cap space and prime for another deep playoff run.

Goodrow is signed for three more seasons at an annual cap hit of $3.6 million. That comes off the books if one of the NHL's other 31 teams claims him.

If Goodrow clears waivers, the Rangers have options to trade him or buy out the final three years of his contract. A buyout would save them $3.9 million next season, $2.6 million in 2025-26 and $139,000 in 2026-27 before costing an extra $1.1 million the following three seasons through 2030.

Goodrow, 31, has been a valuable depth center on several long playoff runs going back to San Jose's trip to the Western Conference final in 2019. He played a key role in Tampa Bay's back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2020 and '21 and helped New York reach the Eastern Conference final in '22 and this postseason before losing to Florida.

The Toronto native has 169 points in 572 regular-season games and 24 more in 97 games in the playoffs since making his debut in the league in 2014.