Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with excerpts from the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation from all of the internet’s best sites including Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, The Athletic, TSN and more!
From The Athletic
LeBrun: Which defencemen could change addresses, or stay put, this upcoming offseason?
Tyson Barrie
The Oilers have interest in bringing Barrie back but I also think the 29-year-old pending UFA (turns 30 July 26) would have to settle for what fits under Edmonton’s cap given pending UFAs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mike Smith and Adam Larsson and whatever else the Oilers are trying to get done this offseason (secondary scoring up front).
Barrie bet on himself last fall in free agency, signing for one year and $3.75 million, choosing the Oilers over a better offer from the Canucks, the idea being he could fit in well on that power play and high-octane attack and in the process repatriate his brand. He did just that, leading all NHL blueliners with 48 points (eight goals and 40 assists) in 56 games. But the flat-cap environment and consistent concerns over his defensive game probably don’t result in a financial bonanza.
If the Oilers are willing to do a three-year deal worth between $4.5 million and $5 million a season, and I’m not saying they are, but let’s say they offer that: if I’m Barrie, I sign it. Sure, there could be another million a year elsewhere, and that’s something, but the “fit’’ is best in Edmonton. Just my two cents.
BLH’s Thoughts: Of course Barrie COULD come back to the Oilers for that kind of deal. Anything can happen, as they say.
With that out obviousness of the way, I might be in the minority, but I loved what Barrie brought to the team last year. He might’ve faded a bit in the playoffs but when is the last time the Oilers had the league’s highest scoring defenseman and who didn’t sputter out against the Jets for Edmonton?
Barrie’s ability to move up and down the lineup was also something I felt came in handy. He could play up top with Darnell Nurse or down on the 3rd pair if he was having an off night. It’d be handy to have someone dependable if the plan is to get Evan Bouchard’s career going full-time.
My feeling is that Seattle is going to offer him Krug-like money (over $6M/yr) but my hope is that he comes back to Edmonton. It might force the Oilers to play Ethan Bear on his off-side or to move him out, but I value Barrie over Bear as it is and I also believe Evan Bouchard is better than Bear too. That said, if Bear was on on the left side, I couldn’t possibly complain about that since I can’t think of a left-shot dman who’s as good as Ethan with Nurse obviously being the exception.
If you’re asking why the Oilers would want to pay Barrie when they’ve got Bouchard, that’s valid, but my response to that would be, what’s wrong with having another blueliner who can produce 40pts? Scoring depth is a problem I thought.
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