Today the Nashville Predators announced that Center Marcel Goc has come to terms with the team through the 2010/11 season. Goc would have been a free-agent after this season. The terms of the deal provide for $775,000 on a one-way contract.
Goc was one of several free-agent acquisitions made over the past summer intended as a "depth-move" for third- and fourth-line vacancies created by the departures of Radek Bonk, Scott Nichol and Vernon Fiddler. Goc impressed early and earned a roster-spot from the opening of the current season. Goc has been a steady, reliable two-way player and is on pace for a career year in points (22 points, earned in 2005 with the Sharks) , having already set a career best in goals (10 in 49 games played.) He also leads the team in face-off win percentage (51.5%) and has a plus/minus rating of plus-7, good for third on the team among forwards (fifth overall.)
Personally, I think this is a huge win for the organization. Goc has surpassed the expectations I had for him coming into the season. He has a good awareness of the play, and while he doesn't have an established net presence like Hornqvist or Jones, he has shown a willingness to crash the net. He is superbly effective at managing his own zone first and is pretty strong on his skates despite his being a pretty slim guy. All that's all well and good, and certainly worth the $775k alone, but his contributions to the secondary scoring when, let's face it, he was brought in for a shut-down kind of role, makes him a bargain, especially if he continues at the pace he's on.
This official announcement can be viewed at predators.nhl.com.
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