After acquiring Adam Larsson from the Devils last June, many Oiler fans were hoping to see a puck-moving defender added to the roster. Even though the Oilers had acquired a shutdown defender who could play a top-four role, the club desperately still needed a powerplay QB and someone who could move the puck.
That hole was never filled via free agency or trade, but Oscar Klefbom did have a solid season in that regard and took some heat off the Oilers powerplay. That said, the club could explore adding a puck-moving defender again this summer, especially after having breakout issues against the Ducks in the postseason.
Tyson Barrie, after a nightmare season in Colorado, could be a target a summer after many believed he was Peter Chiarelli’s top choice to add to the club.
Why Is He Out There?:
To put it politely, the Colorado Avalanche were a complete and utter disaster last season. The club was the NHL’s worst team by a mile and had the worst defensive group in the NHL. Everything is on the table for the Avalanche at this time, and only Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen seem safe.
Colorado could be looking for some more defensive oriented blueliners after last year’s disaster, and Barrie is one of their most appealing trade chips. After Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene, you can argue that Barrie would bring the highest return.
If GM Joe Sakic is truly going to rebuild this Colorado team, moving the 25 year old rearguard could be in the cards.
What Does He Do Well?:
Tyson Barrie is an elite offensive defender at the NHL level. One can argue that he had a poor season in 2016-17, but he still managed to post boxcars of 7-31-38 in 74 games. That’s very strong offensive production, especially on a team as offensively challenged as the Avalanche were.
His puck-moving ability is extremely strong, and I think that is the strongest asset he has. He can make a crisp first pass and move the puck in the right direction with ease. He’s also quite strong at carrying the puck and has excellent offensive awareness.
Barrie is mobile, has a very strong shot and can quarterback a powerplay better than almost anyone in the NHL. He’d give the Oilers a truly elite option from the point on the man advantage, which they currently lack. Essentially, Barrie is the perfect offensive defender.
His defensive game isn’t the strongest, but don’t be fooled because he is not a complete liability on the backend. In fact, I’d argue that he can more than hold his own. That said, I’d feel more comfortable if he was paired with a strong veteran like, say, Andrej Sekera.
Where Will He Play/Where Should He Play:
Personally, I think Tyson Barrie can handle a top-pairing job, but that he is ideally suited to play on the second pairing as a right-shot option. Without a doubt, he is a top-four defender and he should be put into that role. He was Colorado’s top option, and I’d have him as the third option in Edmonton behind Oscar Klefbom and a healthy Andrej Sekera.
He should be a top-four right-shot option, and in Edmonton that is exactly where he would fit. I’d speculate that Todd McLellan would play him on the second pairing with Andrej Sekera (when Sekera is healthy) and on the top powerplay unit.
What Will He Cost:
Barrie just completed the first season of a deal that runs until the summer of 2020. That means Barrie has three more years at a cap hit of $5.5 million per year. That cap hit would be the most expensive on Edmonton’s blueline, and honestly I’m not sure if it would fit at this time.
As for a price, I could see Ryan Nugent-Hopkins being of interest to Colorado. If they move Matt Duchene, they’ll need another center to jump into a top-six role. The Nuge can do that with ease, and in fact I think he’d produce better with more opportunity in Denver.
Edmonton’s first round pick this June, defensive prospects Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones, and possibly Jordan Eberle could all be of interest to the Avalanche this summer. Would RNH and Jones for Barrie and, say, Joe Colborne be a deal that works?
Closing Argument:
The need for an offensive minded defender is not as dire as last summer, but the Oilers still must upgrade the defence this summer if they want to compete for a Stanley Cup next spring. Tyson Barrie is an expensive option, but he’d give the Oilers another bonafide top-four defender, and finally one with some explosiveness.
If Joe Sakic is exploring the possibility of moving Barrie, which I suspect he just may, then Peter Chiarelli should be digging around. Barrie could be a very valuable addition for this club and could help Edmonton’s defensive group in a big way next season.
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