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 20th 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.