Tyson Barrie

It's difficult to say Barrie had a disappointing year in 2021-22 considering he finished with 40-plus points (41) for the fifth time in the past six years, in addition to posting 21 points with the man advantage. But it didn't feel like enough production for a guy serving as the power-play quarterback on a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Barrie doesn't offer much - to both the Oilers and fantasy managers - in terms of his play in the defensive zone, so his ability to pile up points is imperative. Edmonton has another rearguard in youngster Evan Bouchard who would likely be perfectly capable in a featured power-play role, but Barrie has two years left on his deal with a $4.5 million cap hit, so that job will likely once again be his to lose in 2022-23.

Barrie took a one-year contract with the Oilers last year to prove his one bad season in Toronto was a fluke, and it worked. Operating as the power-play quarterback, the 30-year-old picked up 23 of his 48 points with the man advantage while sharing ice with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl regularly. He was rewarded with a three-year contract with the Oilers, where he'll likely continue to be a key part of the power play, although he could eventually see a lesser role at even strength. The B.C. native is just a couple of years removed from back-to-back 50-point campaigns, and a full 82-game season working with the Oilers' superstars should lead to excellent scoring returns in 2021-22. Expect Barrie to challenge for 60 points with a high shot volume and well over three minutes of power-play ice time per game.

Barrie managed just five goals and 39 points in 70 games for the Maple Leafs last season after posting back-to-back campaigns over 50 points. His ice time didn't change save for a reduced role on the power play in Toronto, but he nonetheless elected to move on in free agency. Enter the Oilers, who will be without their usual power-play quarterback Oscar Klefbom to begin 2020-21. Barrie enters an enticing situation in which he'll share a lot of ice time with the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with the man advantage. The 29-year-old Barrie has an excellent track record for scoring and should enjoy a return to a 50-point pace if he can avoid injuries. His floor is likely 35 points in a full campaign, so fantasy managers can select Barrie with relative confidence.

New challenges await for Barrie, as the Avalanche traded the mobile, puck-moving rearguard to the Maple Leafs during the July 1 signing frenzy. He departs Colorado as the franchise leader in points among defensemen, having accumulated 75 goals and 232 assists over an eight-year span. Barrie's fantasy value will be measured by how quickly he can adjust to a new system within the Eastern Conference, though the prospect of him sharing the ice with superstars John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on the power play foretells an uninterrupted rate of offensive production for the 28-year-old. Barrie remains in the upper echelon at his position, even though the minute-muncher posted a cumulative minus-59 rating with the Avalanche and was buoyed by a 283:182 ratio in measuring giveaways against takeaways. Consider pouncing on Barrie soon after the likes of Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns are off the draft board.

Barrie hasn't shied away from shooting the puck in the past few seasons, posting at least 170 shots on goal for the third straight campaign in 2017-18. However, he also turned in a 7.9 shooting percentage -- his best over the three-year span -- to convert the shots into a career-best 14 goals in addition to his 43 assists. Despite doubling the Avs' next-closest blueliner -- Erik Johnson with 25 points -- on the offensive end, Barrie's defensive deficiencies sprouted a minus-15 rating that dings his stock slightly. There's little reason to anticipate his rating will improve much in 2018-19, but Barrie remains a valuable fantasy asset as a contributor for counting stats along the blue line.

Barrie just turned 26 and has 140 points over the last three seasons, so what’s not to like? Unfortunately, his scoring in that time has regressed from 53 points to 49 to 38, and the blueliner’s poor play in the defensive zone has resulted in a minus-50 rating over the last two campaigns. On the bright side, Barrie set a new career high with 182 shots on goal despite missing eight games last year, though he scored on just 3.8 percent of those. Barrie’s offensive skills are legitimate enough to nab 20 power-play points, but the combination of his own shortcomings and the subpar team around him should make him a plus-minus black hole once again. One of those problems could be alleviated if the trade rumblings surrounding Barrie finally come to fruition.

Barrie has quickly entered the conversation as arguably a top-10 blueliner coming into his sixth season with the Avalanche. He narrowly avoided an arbitration ruling at the end of July by agreeing to a four-year, $22 million contract extension. The 25-year-old has been a force on the power play for two straight seasons – three goals and 18 assists last year – and is one to be watched on even-strength offense. Altogether, the 2009 third-round pick notched 13 tallies, 36 helpers and five game-winning markers to round it out. The only knock is his minus-16 rating, but Colorado is coming in improved and hungry, leaving the door wide open for a better number in 2016-17. Barrie won’t budge from his first pairing and consistent time on the man advantage, making him an excellent draft pick with upside.

After establishing himself as a dangerous offensive blueliner with 38 points in 2013-14, Barrie took his game up another notch last season, recording 12 goals and 53 points in 80 games. In a disastrous year for Colorado, Barrie was one of the few bright spots, emerging as a lethal power-play option and becoming one of the league’s premier talents on defense. Moreover, the 24-year-old showed a developing two-way game by leading all Avalanche players with a plus-5 rating, in addition to making large gains in the hits and blocks categories from a season earlier. With rising stars Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, and Nate MacKinnon among others offering playmaking abilities up front, Barrie has the supporting cast in place to churn out another 50-point season, with the potential to even surpass his 2014-15 total. This guy is the real deal and should be drafted with confidence among the league's other top fantasy defensemen.

Barrie emerged as a significant source of offense from the back end for the young Avalanche last season, as his 38 points in 64 games were just one behind Erik Johnson -- who played in 16 more contests -- for tops among Colorado rearguards. The British Columbia native skated to a very efficient plus-17 rating and also flashed his prowess in clutch situations on several occasions, finishing third among league defensemen with five game-winning goals -- three of which were in OT. That made him the co-leader in that category, joining top-flight snipers James Neal and Alex Ovechkin. In terms of special teams, the 2009 64th-overall draft pick quietly led the upstart Avs in average power-play ice time, spending 2:47 per game on the man advantage. Unfortunately, Barrie's postseason was cut short when he sprained his MCL in Game 3 of the Avs’ first-round matchup against Minnesota, after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Matt Cooke. However, with a full summer to recover, Barrie is expected to enter training camp in September fully healthy and ready to build upon the success of last season.

Barrie had 13 points in 32 games last season for the Avs and seemed to be the lone bright spot on a horrendous blue line. The talented prospect proved he was NHL ready, playing over 21 minutes per game last season, but he was surprisingly sent down to the minors at the end of last season. That move had little to do with his talent and a lot to do with the way his contract was structured -- the Avs saved nearly a million dollars with the move. He seems to be a lock to make the team on the Avs' second defensive pair and see solid time on the power play, too. There's fantasy value in that.

Barrie, who turned 21 in July, joined the Avs late last season and saw limited action, registering no points in just 10 games. He struggled at times at both ends of the rink, but overall showed flashes of the offensive player he was the previous four seasons at WHL Kelowna (225 points in 249 games). Barrie is one of several very promising young defensemen who will continue to compete for a job on the Avs’ blue line next season, but will likely start the year at AHL Lake Erie.

Barrie finished second in voting for the WHL’s top defenseman last year - edged out by fellow Avalanche prospect Stefan Elliott - after winning the award the previous season. Barrie, who had 11 goals and 58 points this season for the Kelowna Rockets, is expected to compete for a roster spot with the Avs at training camp in September, but will likely open the season at AHL Lake Erie.

Barrie is one of a handful of offensive-minded defensemen currently in the Avs' system. He's been on a real tear for Kelowna of the WHL the past three seasons, having scored a combined 167 points in 195 games. He is expected to spend one more year playing junior before turning pro, but make no mistake - you will see him in the NHL eventually, and he'll be worth owning.