Tyson Barrie has the dubious distinction of being the only NHL player out of the 25 eligible to have his contract negotiation case heard by the arbitrator.
Until Friday morning, all previous arb cases were settled before the hearing had begun.
The Colorado Avalanche chose not to cave in to Barrie's contract demands and proceeded with the player-elected arbitration hearing on Friday.
The crux of the Barrie matter is the term and AAV that the Avs have offered him.
The Avs have offered their most dynamic D-man a two-year deal that will pay him $4 million in year one and $4.25 million in year two.
Barrie and his agents at Newport Sports instead are demanding a one-year $6 million contract.
Barrie is an offensive juggernaut having scored 153 points in his first 264 NHL games.
So why won't the Avs capitulate and give the kid his $6 million AAV?
The Colorado brain trust obviously don't think that he is worth that type of annual average value. They obviously don't love his play on the defensive side of the puck. Barrie was minus 17 in 2015-16. Only Erik Johnson and Jarome Iginla had worse plus/minus ratings for the Avs last season.
The Avs and Barrie can still reach a new contract agreement before a decision from arbitrator Elizabeth Neumeier must be provided within 48 hours of the hearing. The 48 hour period will end long about Noon on Sunday.
Since the NHL trade deadline in March, Barrie’s name has been smack dab in the middle of NHL trade rumors. Team rumored to still be interested in Barrie are Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, NY Rangers, and Boston Bruins.
If the Avs thought that Tyson Barrie could improve his defensive game without compromising his offensive output, they would have already paid him his $6 million AAV by now. Their hesitation to re-sign Barrie at his number speaks volumes. The Avs would rather sign Barrie to a two year bridge deal and chart his progress. If after two seasons he shows signs of growth in his defensive game, then they go all-in on a long term contract at an AAV more to his liking. Barrie and his advisors are not about to go there. In their humble opinions, Barrie has already proven himself to be one of teh top 10-12 D-men in the NHL.
Erik Johnson is the highest paid defenseman on the Avs roster right now at $6M AAV. Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy obviously feel strongly that Barrie is not in Johnson's class in terms of protecting his 64 foot by 85 foot battle field that exists from the defensive blue line to the goal line.
In 78 games played last season, Barrie scored 13 goals and chipped in 36 assists for 49 points. He averaged 23:12 TOI and played in all situations.
For his career, Barrie has played in 264 total games in Colorado while scoring 40 goals and adding 113 helpers for 153 points. For his career, he has averaged 21:06 TOI.
I get the distinct impression that Barrie and his agents are looking at the Dougie Hamilton contract from last summer as Barrie's comparable.
Hamilton side stepped arbitration before last season began by agreeing to a six-year, $34.5 million pact that carries a $5.75 million average annual value.
It can be argued by the Avs management team that Hamilton is nowhere near the offensive defensive that Barrie is. It can also be argues that Barrie isn't the defensive D-man that Hamilton is. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Still, I can see Barrie accepting a long term deal at the $5.75M AAV.
I can see the arbitrator ruling in favor of Barrie to the tune of $5.6 to $6 million on a one year contract.
I see growing frustration and acrimony percolating to the surface in Denver. Barrie likely heard some unflattering things about his overall game and role on the team from Sakic and the Avs at the Friday hearing. Arbitration hearings can get personal and nasty at times. The team says things about the player. The player criticizes the team. In the end, the independent arbitrator will make her ruling based on the facts of the case and not the raw emotion of the moment.
I pulled this video from Barrie's Instagram account. I think it appropriately captures the spirit of his arbitration standoff with the Colorado Avalanche. Try as they might, they can't knock Barie off his metaphorical wake board.
Barrie isn't the only unsigned restricted free agent in the NHL today.
Buffalo Sabres D-monster Rasmus Ristolainen is doing work in his gym in Finland while his agent and the Sabres try to hammer out the final details of a 6 year contract extension.
A photo posted by Hampus Lindholm (@hampuslindholm47) on
Meanwhile, in Gothenburg , Sweden, Anaheim Ducks RFA D stud prepares for the upcoming season. Like Ristolainen, Lindhlm's AAV will be influenced by that of Barrie's arb negotiated AAV.
Lindholm is seeking a long term deal in the $6M AAV neighborhood. Like Ristolainen, he will get his asking price.
Lindholm must feel confident that the Ducks want him back, otherwise, why would he be wearing their lid on his head?
A photo posted by Hampus Lindholm (@hampuslindholm47) on
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Buffalo Sabres power forward Zemgus Girgensons is still negotiating his next contract with Tim Murray. Zemgus declined signing his qualifying offer, which is said to be a one year "show me what you've got" offer. Girgensons is said to be demanding a 2-3 year contract.
In the meantime, Zemgus sits, and waits for his agent to call him with updates.
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