In a surprising move, the Calgary Flames have inked a deal with seasoned defenseman Tyson Barrie on a professional tryout agreement, as revealed by TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun. The Flames front office is hopeful that Barrie will impress enough during his tryout to secure a league minimum contract with the team.
Barrie, at 33 years old, last played for the Nashville Predators in the 2023-24 season, where he notched one goal and contributed 14 assists. The veteran defenseman had been playing on a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers before being traded to Nashville during the 2023 trade deadline as part of a deal involving defenseman Mattias Ekholm.
Hailing from Victoria, B.C., Barrie was drafted in the third round (No. 64 overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. He spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Avalanche before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the 2019-20 season. Following his stint with the Maple Leafs, Barrie signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers in the subsequent summer.
With an impressive career stats sheet, Barrie has accumulated 505 points over 809 regular season games, with 109 goals and 396 assists to his name. Additionally, he has showcased his skills in the postseason, tallying two goals and 19 assists in 47 playoff appearances.
The Flames are eager to see what Barrie can bring to the table and are optimistic about the potential of adding his experience and skill set to their defensive lineup. As the veteran defenseman sets out to prove his worth during the upcoming tryout, all eyes will be on Barrie as he aims to secure a spot on the Flames roster for the upcoming season.
