Tyson Barrie Could Help A Team Like The Islanders
Tyson Barrie will be one of the most interesting free agents this offseason, and he can be a sleeper candidate to sign with the Islanders. He was considered one of the best defensemen in hockey just two season ago, but after a poor season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he will be testing the open market this Friday.
With his value at an all-time low, could a team like the Islanders swoop in and snag Barrie for cheap?
Tyson Barrie’s Interesting Season
The Maple Leafs acquired Barrie, Alex Kerfoot and a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft from the Colorado Avalanche for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft on July 1, 2019.
At the time, the trade seemed great for Toronto, especially considering Colorado was retaining half of Barrie’s salary. However, Barrie never found a fit with the Maple Leafs and struggled all season.
Barrie failed to register a point in the qualifying round against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I wish I would’ve left a little more of a stamp on the series,” Barrie said. “At this point I have no idea what the future holds.”
While Barrie struggled in his own end and did not make his mark on a weak Toronto backend, the 29-year-old defenseman still put up nearly 40 points in a shortened season. He is a valuable offensive threat that plays well defensively in the right system and will provide a team with great value this offseason.
Could Tyson Barrie Join The Islanders?
Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk and Thomas Hickey are under contract for $13 million each of the next two seasons. While the Islanders do not have a lot of money to spend to upgrade their defensive unit, they could use a puck-moving defenseman to help their power-play.
New York will not be breaking the bank for a defenseman. However, if Lou Lamoriello can trade Leddy, Boychuk or Hickey, Barrie could be a great replacement on a cheap contract.
Out of all the top names on the free agent market, Barrie is the most likely to sign with the Islanders. Taylor Hall, Alex Pietrangelo and Torey Krug will be too expensive for Lamoriello in a flat-cap world.
Nonetheless, if teams hold Barrie accountable for a poor season in Toronto and are hesitant to pay the price for a player with top-pairing potential, Lamoriello can swoop in and sign him at a discount.
This is unlikely, but nonetheless, keep an eye on the Islanders as a sleeper fit in the Tyson Barrie sweepstakes. If you want to see more likely free agent targets, click here!
