Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie admitted he wasn't at his best during the first season with his new team, but he believes the postseason represents an excellent opportunity to show what he's capable of.
"I'm really glad we're getting a chance to come back and play. I feel like I've got more to offer and it's a good chance for me to show it," Barrie told reporters Thursday, per TSN. "I feel pretty comfortable right now with my game, all things considered. It'll be a bit of a bizarre one to jump right into playoffs after so much time off, but like you said, it's a good opportunity to make up for a bit of an up-and-down season for sure."
The 2019-20 campaign was a tale of two seasons for Barrie. He struggled to find his footing under Mike Babcock but really hit his stride after Sheldon Keefe took over behind the bench.
| Coach | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babcock | 23 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Keefe | 47 | 5 | 27 | 32 |
With multiple injuries to Toronto's blue line this season, Barrie was sometimes playing over 25 minutes per night, but he's projected to start the postseason on the third pairing with Travis Dermott. He will also quarterback the club's vaunted No. 1 power-play unit alongside Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander.
The 29-year-old was acquired last offseason from the Colorado Avalanche along with Alexander Kerfoot as part of a blockbuster trade in exchange for Nazem Kadri. Barrie, though, is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. With only $4.6 million in projected cap space, the Leafs would have to get creative in order to bring him back.