Currently, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie was in Paris, representing Canada in the World Championship. He’s delivered dominant performances for a dominant team, leading all defensemen in scoring with seven points in three games for the undefeated defending champions. Unfortunately, he will not be able to keep up his torrid play, as he has been sent home with a lower-body injury.
That wasn’t the case for the Avalanche or Barrie during the 2016-17 NHL season, as the blueliner struggled as an individual, and the team finished at the bottom of the standings.
“I think, with the way things went for the team and personally, it’s a tough year all around,” Barrie told Mile High Sports. “Obviously, I would have liked to have produced a little more.”
Barrie had seven goals and 38 points in 74 games. It was his lowest point total since 2013-14, when he had 38, but in 10 less games. His 10 power play points were also his least since that season; a category that the entire team struggled in.
“Our powerplay was bottom of the league, and that’s part of my job,” Barrie said. “So that’s definitely got to improve and I’m a big part of that.”
While stats are all well and good, Barrie is far more concerned with how the Avalanche performs as a whole. Like many others, both inside and outside the organization, he is excited about the young prospects the team has, and how they performed late in the season. Still, the 25-year-old knows that it is up to the entire team to turn this around.
“We’ve got a group in here who’s obviously a little embarrassed by what happened this year,” he said. “So we’re going to work hard this summer and be determined not to let it happen again.”
Another person determined not to let a season like 2016-17 happen again is Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic, who stated on Tuesday that “there’s going to be a lot of turnover.” Barrie, who has been mentioned in rumors in recent months, isn’t fazed, nor is he looking to move on.
“You can’t worry about that stuff,” he said. “I think my name has been in the trade rumors for the last two years. It’s not my decision. I want to be here. I want to stick this out with these guys, try and turn this thing around and be here when we make the playoffs. Whether that happens or not, that’s not in my hands; so I’ve just got have a good summer working out, come back and prepare like I’m going to be playing for the Avalanche.”