Barclay Goodrow was the cap casualty for the Rangers this past summer, when the organization had to ruthlessly put the veteran forward on waivers to circumvent his 15-team no-trade list and complete a prearranged deal with the Sharks. 

It was a necessary move for the Blueshirts, but an unfortunate situation for Goodrow. 

President and general manager Chris Drury got to shed all of Goodrow’s $3,641,667 cap hit. And Goodrow still has two seasons left of it on the same deal Drury signed him to in July 2021. 

It is clear, though, that the two-time Stanley Cup champion was not pleased with the Rangers’ communication leading up to his waivers designation. 

Goodrow returned to Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, skating on the Sharks’ top line alongside this year’s first-overall pick, Macklin Celebrini, and Tyler Toffoli. 

“It was just a big surprise,” Goodrow said from inside the visiting locker room Thursday morning. “I was never given any inclination or whatever that I wouldn’t be back with the team and that happened. That was a while ago. I’ve tried to move past it. We’re here and excited to be with San Jose.” 

The Sharks immediately named Goodrow alternate captain upon his re-entrance into the locker room after the undrafted forward started his career in San Jose in 2014. 

Just like the Rangers did when they signed him following his back-to-back Stanley Cup runs with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. 

Goodrow is a meat and potatoes kind of player. Someone who is always going to do the little things on the ice that may not show up on the stat sheet, but are so integral to how a team operates. 

The Rangers considered him one of their most versatile players during his three seasons in New York.

This new line Goodrow has found himself on — as well as the power play — with the Sharks indicates they do, as well. 

To Mario Ferraro, who overlapped with Goodrow at the end of his first stint in San Jose in 2019-20, the 31-year-old is the same player. 

“He’s never changed. He brings the same thing every night,” Ferraro told The Post. “You know what you’re going to get out of a player like that, which is really reliable and consistent, and that’s why teams want him. He does those little things. That year is no different than his play style now. 

“That year in San Jose, he was one of our best players that year, that’s why he was traded. I think he was traded for a first-rounder that year. He had a lot of success, which I’m happy for him for that.” 

There were no hard feelings between Goodrow and his teammates or his former coach. He had dinner with Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox on Wednesday night.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette reaffirmed what a big part of the team Goodrow was and the success that they’ve had in recent years. 

Ryan Warsofsky said Goodrow has fully bought into his new team, which didn’t have a lot of familiar faces for him but still made for an easier transition given his history there. 

“His play has been really consistent since Game 1,” the Sharks coach said. “We’re fortunate to have him on our roster, a guy who has won, he knows what it takes. To help our younger players, teach them winning habits and what it takes to win in this league. He’s been great for us.”