Oil On Whyte
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Oilers – the TO rescue 911 crew

By Phil Gretzky

TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 12: Ken Holland takes part in a press opportunity prior to his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame at the Hockey Hall Of Fame on November 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 12: Ken Holland takes part in a press opportunity prior to his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame at the Hockey Hall Of Fame on November 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Edmonton Oilers Tyson Barrie, #22.
Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Tyson Barrie

In the covid-shortened season of 2020, the Oilers signed d-man Tyson Barrie away from the Maple Laffs, who had chewed him up and spit him out despite the fact Barrie had put up 39 points and was wilting under then-coach Mike Babcock’s system in toxic sludgehole Toronto.

Talk about being ungrateful. What makes this even more comical is the Maple Laffs had just traded for Barrie the season prior and sent out Nazem Kadri plus a prospect and a pick.

And now only two seasons later they have literally nothing to show for this trade. Bad asset management, anyone? No wonder he wasn’t keen to re-sign there…..you can’t make this stuff up. If you can hear Nelson going “HAW HAW” in the background, it’s well deserved.

Barrie was initially given a one year show-contract of $3.75 million for one year. He responded by leading the NHL in scoring amongst blueliners in the covid-shortened season of 2020-21 and forming a formidable puck moving duo with Darnell Nurse on the first pairing. Amazingly, he received exactly zero votes for the Norris trophy that year, which just goes to show you how incredibly ignorant the trophy voting system is. He followed that up with another 40 point season after re-upping with the Oilers at $4.5 million for three years, again at a bargain as appreciation for rescuing him from Toronto.

Although Barrie’s roster spot has been usurped first by Cody Ceci and then by Evan Bouchard, and he may be traded later on in the offseason, there’s no question he’s certainly rehabilitated his career here in Edmonton. Going forward, at worst he remains a fantastic trade chip, at best a great PP quarterback who can step up into the top six in case of injury.

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