The Toronto Maple Leafs are in need of depth across the board. But the club doesn’t have a ton of cap space to do it. After signing Nick Robertson and William Villeneuve, the Leafs have just under $2 million in cap space.
That’s just enough to bring in one or two additional players on cheap, league-minimum contracts. In particular, the Maple Leafs’ blue line could use some additional depth. Beyond the top six names, Henry Thrun stands as the seventh blue liner.
So, why not bring in a familiar face on a Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)? Specifically, former blue liner Tyson Barrie comes to mind.
Yes, Barrie isn’t nearly the player he once was. But this idea doesn’t have Barrie come in on a multi-year deal. The thought here is that Barrie rejoins the Maple Leafs on a PTO. If he makes the team, Toronto can sign him to a $775K deal or somewhere in that vicinity.
Bringing Barrie back into the fold would be nothing more than a depth move. With Thrun slated as the seventh defenseman, Barrie could suit up as the eighth blue liner. It’s also worth pointing out that Thrun is a left-shot D-man. Barrie is a right-shot. So, that situation complements the Leafs’ defense situation well.
Of course, there are other younger blue liners on the market still. But the 34-year-old Barrie could be looking for one more kick at the can. The Leafs could provide that opportunity in a low-risk move.
Barrie Might Have Something to Prove with Maple Leafs
In Tyson Barrie’s first stint with the Maple Leafs, things didn’t go quite as expected. Barrie joined the club as part of the 1-for-1 blockbuster that sent Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche. On the whole, Barrie played well enough during the COVID-shortened 2019-2020 season.
But he didn’t quite live up to expectations. Fans hoped that Barrie could turn into the offensive dynamo he had been in Colorado. While his numbers weren’t bad, he didn’t have the impact fans hoped.
The move stung even more when Kadri won a Stanley Cup in Colorado a couple of seasons later.
Since leaving Toronto, Barrie has bounced around the league. He’s made stops in Edmonton, Nashville, and Calgary. Last season, Barrie made the Flames on a PTO. However, he was cut after playing in just 13 games.
As such, Barrie’s career is on its last legs, and the Maple Leafs could provide one last shot.
Barrie Is Low-Risk Move for Toronto
Adding Tyson Barrie on a PTO is a low-risk move for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even if Barrie makes the team, he’s unlikely to command a huge deal. The Leafs could sign Barrie to a league-minimum deal. At worst, a $1 million deal could work.
Expectations would be extremely low for the veteran rearguard. In fact, the likelihood of him seeing action is rather slim. He’ll most likely be riding the press box most of the year.
But it’s also true that injuries can strike at any time. So, having an experienced NHL defenseman on the club could be a worthwhile insurance policy to have.
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