The ongoing Tyson Barrie saga received a new wrinkle Thursday, as the disgruntled Nashville Predators’ defenseman spoke out about his situation.
When chatting with the media on, Barrie addressed his desire to seek out a new home.
“Well, if we’re getting into it,” Barrie said. “I’m in the stands so it doesn’t really feel like a great fit. My goal is to be playing hockey. Whether that’s here or elsewhere is up for the powers that be to decide.”
Last Saturday, the 32-year-old was scratched before Nashville’s game against the New York Rangers. The team then promptly gave Barrie permission to chat with other teams about a potential trade.
His most recent comments are potentially in response to general manager Barry Trotz’s comments during a radio interview on Tuesday, where the former head coach said “I didn’t like the way he reacted to [being scratched].”
Barrie did get into the lineup on Tuesday night, picking up an assist, his 500th point, in Nashville’s 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks. In 23 games this season, the offensive defenseman has just 10 assists. Over his 791-game NHL career, Barrie has 108 goals and 392 assists.
Along with the fact that his stock is not as high as it was during his peak years with the Colorado Avalanche, it is going to be tough for the Predators to move Barrie. There are potential suitors, no question, but Barrie’s $4.5 million cap hit will make the trade difficult. It might force Trotz’s team to retain some of that salary.
Barrie came to Smashville after being traded from the Edmonton Oilers before the trade deadline last season, which saw veteran blueliner Mattias Ekholm go the other way. Set to be an unrestricted free agent, Barrie is in the last year of a three-year contract that he signed with Edmonton.
The Predators are prepping for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. They are sixth in the Central Division, four points back of the Winnipeg Jets for third, and one back of the St. Louis Blues for the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
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