6:10 PM: The Flames have officially announced the signing, confirming the one-year, $1.25MM terms.
3:45 PM: Defenseman Tyson Barrie’s professional tryout agreement with the Calgary Flames organization appears to be a success. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports the Flames and Barrie have agreed to a one-year contract for the 2024-25 NHL season worth $1.25MM.
The Flames entered the offseason desperately needing help on defense after the team moved on from Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and Oliver Kylington over the last calendar year. Barrie is no longer a steady top-four defenseman able to quarterback a top powerplay unit. Still, he serves as a veteran puck-moving defenseman Calgary can utilize during their transitionary period.
He will likely suit up on the right side of the Flames’ bottom defensive pairing next to Kevin Bahl making Brayden Pachal the team’s seventh defenseman. He likely won’t serve on either of Calgary’s powerplay units unless the team trades one of MacKenzie Weegar or Rasmus Andersson during the 2024-25 regular season.
It will be an important year for Barrie as he looks to prove he has more left in the tank after a disappointing finish to his tenure with the Nashville Predators. He was originally acquired from the Edmonton Oilers to fill the void left by Mattias Ekholm and got off to a strong start with three goals and 12 points in 24 games. Unfortunately, last season did not treat Barrie well as he finished with one goal and 15 points in 41 games largely serving as a healthy scratch most nights.
He’s only a few years away from regularly producing between 40-60 points from the blue line. If Barrie’s first half of the season goes well in Calgary he would immediately become a trade candidate at next year’s trade deadline.