Tyson Barrie, once a top NHL defenseman, is still without a team.
He used to be one of the best at scoring from the back end, but now he’s struggling to find a spot. After a tough season last year, he remains unsigned more than a month into free agency.
When Barrie played for Colorado, he was an offensive powerhouse. But things changed when they traded him to Toronto; his performance dipped despite putting up 37 points. The Maple Leafs decided not to keep him.
In Edmonton, Barrie found some success on their power play for nearly three years before being traded for Mattias Ekholm. Joining Nashville at the trade deadline in 2022-23 seemed promising until things fell apart last year. He was allowed to seek other teams but ended up as Nashville’s seventh defender and only played 12 games in 2024.
Fans might think it’s sad how quickly things went downhill for Barrie.
Potential Teams:
Right now, there aren’t many options left for Barrie. If he wants a top-six spot, he might need to join a weaker team on a tryout basis (PTO). If he’s okay with being the seventh defender again, some teams could use his power-play skills.
In the East, the Rangers lost Erik Gustafsson and could use Barrie as an extra option. The Bruins are tight on roster space but might fit him in if Jeremy Swayman signs soon. The Senators and Blue Jackets also seem like long shots depending on what happens before training camp.
Out West, if the Blues need someone like Torey Krug, Barrie could be their guy since he’s good offensively. The Wild lack offensive defenders beyond Brock Faber and might consider adding Barrie if they can manage their salary cap.
Contract Predictions:
At the start of free agency, it seemed like Barrie could get around $1.5 million per year—a big drop from his previous $4.5 million salary but still decent compared to what he’ll likely get now: close to minimum wage or even just a PTO deal.
What do you think about this situation? Should teams take a chance on him?
