Nashville Predators confirm signing of Marcel Goc

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 21, 2009 10:28 AM EDT

This morning the Nashville Predators have confirmed last night's news of the Marcel Goc signing:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent forward Marcel Goc (MAHR-sehl GAWCH) to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 on the NHL level and $105,000 on the AHL level.

Goc, who turns 26 on Monday (8/24/83), has played 265 career games with San Jose since 2005-06, posting 54 points (20g-34a) and 76 penalty minutes. In 2008-09, the 6-1, 200-pound center led the Sharks, and ranked fifth in the NHL, in face-off winning percentage (58.2%) among those taking at least 500 draws. He also posted career highs in shots (104), average ice time (13:55) and hits (83) a season ago. Goc has also seen action in 37 playoff games (3g-5a-8pts), and made his NHL debut during the 2004 postseason.

A native of Calw, Germany, Goc is the highest German-born player ever selected in the NHL Entry Draft, going 20^th overall (first round) to San Jose in 2001. He has played in 13 international competitions for his homeland since 2000, including the 2006 Olympics in Torino and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. July 20-24, Goc was one of 32 participants in Germany's Olympic Orientation Camp.

Hearing that this indeed a two-way contract makes me feel much better. I can see Goc competing for 3rd- and 4th-line work, but wouldn't want to see him potentially crowd out the development of younger players like Cal O'Reilly or Colin Wilson.

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Comments

You pretty much just traded Nichol for Goc and saved $200,000 in the process. I’d take that deal every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

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by Matthew_Taylor on Aug 21, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

But is Goc anywhere near the PK man that Nichol was for Nashville? It looks like he was at best a secondary guy on an admittedly good PK unit.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 21, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

According to behindthenet.ca, Nichol is one of the worst PK’ers in the game. So, that’s not the best comparison, although I do know that many Nashvillians thought Nichol was pretty solid.

Goc is an absolute monster in the faceoff circle, and he’s a speedy player who’s primary focus is defense. You’ll be fine.

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by Matthew_Taylor on Aug 21, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

There’s good reason to believe that Nichol’s numbers were an anamoly last year. The team overall got off to a poor start on the PK, during which he got his concussion.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 21, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions