REPORTS: ‘Faith’ sharks will claim Goodrow, ‘trading interest’ in Atkinson?

If the reports are true, the San Jose Sharks’ offseason plan becomes clear.

It appears GM Mike Grier is favoring will over skill, perhaps in the form of Cam Atkinson and Barclay Goodrow.

Atkinson has scored 20 goals six times and even surpassed 30 twice, so he has plenty of skill. But from 6 feet away, it’s just as much his will and fearlessness around the net that has brought him success.

The 35-year-old, who missed the entire 2022-23 season with a hernia, slumped to just 13 goals this year, a career low for an entire season. The Philadelphia Flyers appear to be trying to pay out the final year of his contract, $5.875 million AAV.

According to Darren Dreger, San Jose “has trade interest, but sources say Atkinson is not keen on a move to the Sharks. Philly will eat up a large chunk of the final year of his contract. A buyout is also an option, as is keeping him in the mix.”

Atkinson has a 10-team No-Trade list, maybe San Jose is on that.

But perhaps Atkinson will change his mind over the summer? The ruthless winger with heart and soul would add some much-needed pushback to the basement-dwelling San Jose Sharks. San Jose Hockey Now sources agree he’s exactly the type of player you want in your kids, like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and William Eklund.

It’s not a bad bet to return to his 20-goal ways and get plenty of playing time in San Jose as well.

While Goodrow doesn’t have Atkinson’s skills, there’s no doubt he does have the will.

Goodrow went from an undrafted free agent signed by the San Jose Sharks in 2014 to a back-to-back Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He wasn’t just a passenger on those title runs, either — he was tasked with protecting the lead in the final seconds of both championship games.

Goodrow, 31, was just waived by the New York Rangers with three years left on his contract for $3.642 million AAV. This was after an up-and-down campaign: On one hand, Goodrow scored six goals in 16 playoff games. On the other hand, this followed a regular season in which he scored just four goals in 80 games.

But like Atkinson, Goodrow is exactly the presence you want in the locker room to guide your youth.

Mollie Walker of the NY Post reported that “it is believed there is a pre-arranged deal for the Sharks to claim Goodrow.”

If so, claiming Goodrow and pursuing Atkinson would represent a different look than Grier’s work last summer, which seemed to rely more on skill than will in players like Anthony Duclair, Mike Hoffman and Filip Zadina. The Sharks were also reportedly trying to sign UFA Vladimir Tarasenko.

Grier did find the skill and will in Mikael Granlund, perhaps he can find a few more such two-way forces this summer?

Goodrow and Atkinson would be a step in the right direction.

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