Veteran defenseman Tyson Barrie’s hockey journey took a surprising turn as he feared his NHL career might be coming to an end. After not receiving any offers during the summer, the 33-year-old found himself in training camp with the Calgary Flames on a professional tryout.
But the hockey gods smiled upon Barrie as he impressed Flames management over the past three weeks, earning himself a one-year, $1.25 million contract.
“Just had a chat with [Flames head coach Ryan] Huska after practice today and he expressed that he’d like me to stay and that management feels the same way,” Barrie revealed. “I went home and had a chat with my agent and family and then the contract came through.”
Head coach Ryan Huska hinted at Barrie’s signing earlier in the day, highlighting the competition among veterans vying for a spot on the third pairing on defense.
“If there’s certain teams that we wanna have someone that maybe moves the puck a little bit better, then we can make an adjustment,” Huska explained.
Barrie’s signing did not come as a surprise to those who watched him closely during practices and preseason games. He was seen taking reps on the second powerplay unit and even played on his off-side during a recent overtime win against Seattle.
Despite the uncertainty about his future, Barrie remains optimistic about his prospects with the Flames.
“I want to reestablish myself as a good player in this league and an every night player,” he declared.
The defenseman’s contract does not include any no-trade protection, indicating that he is fully committed to proving his worth and making a significant impact in Calgary.
