If the Colorado Avalanche are poised to make a major splash in the trade market, it won't be Tyson Barrie heading the other way.
Avalanche GM Joe Sakic has informed Mike Chambers of the Denver Post that the able puck-moving defender will not be dealt. Rather, Sakic hopes to sign Barrie long term, but will go to arbitration if the two sides fail to iron out a more substantial commitment.
"Either way, he'll be here," Sakic said.
Barrie's quietly been one of the most efficient offensive defensemen over the last two years, and hasn't relied heavily on the power play to produce offense. He's one of just seven defenders with 100 points over that span, and ranks fifth in even-strength contribution behind Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Roman Josi, and P.K. Subban.
That sort of production will see no shortage of suitors, but at the same time make it challenging for the team to the keep the price point manageable on a defender limited in certain aspects.
