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Tyson Barrie Announces Retirement

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Amid his participation in yesterday’s Avalanche alumni game, defenseman Tyson Barrie confirmed to Nathan Rudolph of the DNVR Avalanche podcast that he’s retired.

A third-round pick of the Avalanche in 2009, Barrie was a highly intriguing offensive option out of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets and quickly looked like he could be something of a steal. He led the league in assists by a defenseman in his post-draft year and was named the WHL’s top defenseman as a result, but concerns about the righty’s size and defensive acumen meant he returned for a fourth and final season of junior hockey before making the jump to the pro ranks in 2011-12. Even then, he spent most of that year in the minors and only received 10 NHL games.

He slowly worked his way up the Avs’ depth chart, seeing less and less AHL time each season before earning his final recall in November 2013, early in his age-22 season. While he checked in as a fringe top-four option at even strength, he overtook Erik Johnson as Colorado’s top power-play quarterback and ended up recording a 13-25–38 scoring line in 64 games over the balance of the campaign. Those 0.59 points per game placed him inside the top-15 among NHL rearguards that year.

The 2014-15 campaign marked Barrie’s true coming of age. He broke the 50-point plateau – the first of four times he’d end up doing so in his career – while serving as Colorado’s de facto No. 1 option for a good portion of the season with Johnson injured. He would continue averaging north of 21 minutes per game for the remainder of his Colorado tenure, twice earning fringe votes for year-end All-Star honors.

Colorado didn’t have a ton of team success during Barrie’s six-year run as a full-timer there, though, only making the playoffs three times and winning a round once. His struggles away from the puck played a significant role in that. Only once, his final season in Denver, did Barrie manage to record a positive expected rating based on shot quality generated and allowed when he was on the ice at even strength. He posted a negative actual plus/minus rating in his last four years for Colorado, including a league-worst -34 mark in the Avs’ disastrous 22-win season in 2016-17.

Entering the 2019-20 season, Barrie was a pending unrestricted free agent and had been made redundant with Cale Makar’s emergence in the preceding postseason. That kicked off the latter journeyman phase of his career, beginning with a July 1 blockbuster that sent him to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Nazem Kadri. It didn’t work out all that well for Barrie or Toronto. He was no longer his club’s top power play option, sitting behind Morgan Rielly on the Leafs’ power play pyramid, and his offensive output declined to a more pedestrian 5-34–39 scoring line in 70 games as a result.

With Barrie’s point production his only real calling card, the fit in Toronto obviously wasn’t going to be a long-term one. They let him become a free agent during the COVID-laced 2020 offseason, and he proceeded to land a one-year, $3.75MM “prove-it” deal with the Oilers.

Barrie was plopped onto a top power-play unit in Edmonton with the two-headed monster of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid – the league’s two leading scorers in the shortened 2021 season – and responded with the best campaign of his career. He recorded 48 points in the truncated 56-game schedule, leading the NHL in scoring among defenders. His defensive deficiencies remained quite visible, though. He only managed a +5 rating compared to regular partner Darnell Nurse’s +27 mark, and as Edmonton was swept in the first round of the playoffs, Barrie became the first defenseman in league history to lead the position in scoring while not receiving a single Norris Trophy vote.

While Barrie remained a fine puck-mover for the Oilers, his production never quite found that gear again. His minutes began to drop back below the 20-minute mark, and at the 2023 deadline, he was sent to the Predators in the deal that landed Edmonton two-way dynamo Mattias Ekholm.

Nashville marked the last real turning point in Barrie’s career, and it wasn’t for the better. While he was still quite effective for the Preds down the stretch after the trade, recording 12 points in 24 games, that didn’t last very long. In 2023-24 – the final year of a three-year, $13.5MM extension he signed with Edmonton – Barrie tumbled down Nashville’s depth chart and ended up becoming a routine healthy scratch by the time the season ended. As such, he was limited to just one goal and 15 points in 41 games and only drew into the Preds’ playoff lineup once in their first-round loss to the Canucks.

Ahead of his age-33 season and with his value at an all-time low, Barrie ended up needing to settle for a professional tryout with the Flames to participate in an NHL training camp last fall. He did convert that into a $1.25MM contract in early October, but the fit wasn’t quite what Calgary hoped for. He only logged 13 appearances for the club and even ended up on waivers and cleared, seeing his first AHL action in over a decade with the Calgary Wranglers.

Barrie was a free agent this summer, and there was no reported interest in him on the open market. He hangs up his skates with 822 games played in 14 seasons, 23rd among his rather stacked draft class. He scored 110 goals and added 398 assists for 508 points, 10th in the league among defensemen since he debuted back in the 2011-12 season. He averaged just over 21 minutes per night for his career and made $47.85MM in estimated total earnings, per PuckPedia.

All of us at PHR congratulate Barrie on his fine career and wish him the best in his next steps.

Image courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images.

Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies Could Be Beneficiary Of Marner Move

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The conversation of which forward will step up for the Toronto Maple Leafs is beginning to grow as players reconvene for training camp. Toronto lost 100-point scorer Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, and failed to find a suitable replacement on the open market. That will leave the task of filling Marner’s shoes to one of the Leafs’ current stars. Left-winger Matthew Knies dubbed William Nylander as the best bet in an interview with Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. But following a true breakout performance last year, Knies could be the one best setup for another big step.

Knies found his way in the Maple Leafs lineup with a career-high 58 points, split evenly, in 78 games. He found his way onto Toronto’s top line at the age of just 22, becoming the heavy play-driver behind Auston Matthews and Marner. The star-studded company helped Knies reach a lofty 19.1 shooting percentage that will be tough to maintain, but his habits of driving hard into the slot will become a defining trait.

That style complements the similar heft and drive of Nylander, who has spearheaded one of the best second lines in the league next to passer John Tavares. Nylander reached a career-high 45 goals last season, after two seasons of scoring 40 goals. He’s undeniably a star on the rise, though on the back of stepping up as the #1 of his own line – rather than playing along Toronto’s other stars.

That independent ability could convince head coach Craig Berube to leave Nylander separate from the top line. The Swedish star wouldn’t commit to a role when asked, saying his only plans for next year are to dominate the minutes he does receive. If Nylander doesn’t elevate to the top line, Knies will confidently move into the line’s role of #2 behind Matthews. The responsibilities of that status will include teeing up Matthews, and burying the rebounds that his heavy shots generate.

Even on the back of a sky-high shooting percentage, Knies seems well-equipped to match that bill. He showed might in all three layers of the offensive zone, and is still incredibly early in his professional development. The help of a skilled passer, like Matias Maccelli, or the reserved grit of a player like Nicolas Roy could be enough support to let Knies dig in his feet as the star Toronto needs.

A ramp into more responsibility is exactly what Knies is due for after flashing as a 30-goal hopeful last season. He faces a tough task in maintaining his performance from last season, and an even tougher test in finding ways to improve. But in a lineup looking for a big performance, Knies could be the one holding the most potential. Growing to the heights of 65, or even 70, points would maintain Toronto’s mighty top-six, vindicate Knies’ recent contract extension, and undoubtedly cement him as the club’s biggest draft steal in years.

Mitch Marner Didn’t Think Of Leaving Maple Leafs Until Summer

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Winger Mitch Marner was wrapped up in drama and rumors for the bulk of his final years with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A move at the end of the controversial six-year, $65.41MM contract he signed in 2019 seemed all but certain as the summer approached – but despite that, teammate William Nylander emphasized that Marner was focused on the Leafs until the very end. Nylander told NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger:

I actually asked him during the season and he said he was concentrating on Toronto. I didn’t want to press him on that and let him be because it was obviously on his mind, but his play was focused on helping us. Then I asked him after the season and he wasn’t sure.

Aside from wanting to avoid thinking of looming contract negotiations, it’s no surprise to hear Marner remained invested in Toronto. He was born in Markham and grew up playing for the Vaughan Kings and Don Mills Flyers AAA organizations. Marner moved right down the road for juniors hockey, joining the OHL’s London Knights for two superstar seasons, before being drafted by his hometown club with the fourth-overall pick in 2015. He stayed in London for one additional season, before diving into a career that would lead him through 657 games and 741 points in a Maple Leafs jersey.

Despite the fairytale matchup, Marner’s years in Toronto seemed to be clouded by stress. He was ridiculed for a lack of effort, poor results or attitude, and clashes with coaches or teammates. That includes one incident from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when Marner and Nylander exchanged heated words on the bench. Fans analyzed the event as signs of mounting tensions, but Nylander told Zeisberger that it was nothing to read into. He said that things happen in the heat of big games, and that it’s still tough to see Marner leave the club after nine years.

Nylander emphasized that Toronto will miss Marner both on and off of the ice. He leaves a monumental hole on the top line, after scoring a career-high 102 points in 81 games last season. That peak came after Marner rivaled the century mark for three straight seasons, even coming as close as 99 points in 80 games of the 2022-23 season. His breakthrough should provide the perfect ramp to another dazzling season among the Vegas Golden Knights’ star-studded lineup. After years of playing alongside Auston Matthews, Marner will now suit up next to Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, and should almost certainly provide the boost to help the former reach the 100-point mark as well.

Meanwhile, Nylander didn’t commit to filling Marner’s role on the top line next season. He said that he’ll be open to playing all throughout the lineup, and is only focused on dominating next season. Nylander also posted a career year last season, reaching a career-high 45 goals to round out 84 points, after he posted 40 goals and 98 points in 2023-24. It was Nylander’s third-straight year of playing in all 82 games. He’ll undeniably be the top bet to fill Marner’s impact, though Toronto may need to dig deep to fill the spot Nylander will vacate to step up in the lineup.

Auston Matthews Addresses Marner Trade, Maple Leafs Trajectory

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Speaking publicly for the first time since long-time teammate Mitch Marner was traded, Toronto Maple Leafs all-star forward Auston Matthews shared his thoughts on the departure of his now former teammate. Matthews said the team will “obviously miss” Marner’s presence and referred to him as a great friend and teammate, per a video by TSN.

“That’s kind of the business side of it that is tough. Obviously, I wish him nothing but the best. But we’ll just keep it moving,” Matthews said.

Marner was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal, resulting in an eight-year, $96MM deal. And while Marner’s time in Toronto ended on a sour note, there’s no denying that his departure leaves a significant void in the Leafs’ lineup from an offensive production standpoint. Just last season, Marner produced a career-high 102 points. While Matthews alluded to an abundance of changes being made to the lineup, he noted his excitement for the team’s chances heading into the 2025-26 season.

“Obviously, a lot of changes, but I’m excited about the guys we’ve brought in. I know we have a great team and a great group of guys in the locker room. So, I’m looking forward to getting started. Guys are going to have to take some steps, but it’s a good problem to have,” he said.

The Leafs added a series of depth players this offseason. They added forward Nicholas Roy in the Marner deal. In separate trades, they acquired forwards Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli for draft picks, as well as defenseman Henry Thrun from the Sharks in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves. In free agency, the team signed forwards Travis Boyd, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Vinni Lettieri, and Michael Pezzetta, as well as defenseman Dakota Mermis. The team also signed forward Matthew Knies to a six-year, $46.5MM extension. Matthews said his mindset is the same heading into this season as in seasons past, noting that despite new faces on the roster, the goal of the franchise will remain the same.

Matthews also gave a brief but reassuring update on his health heading into training camp, responding simply, ’Good,’ when asked how he was feeling. He missed 15 games last season and revealed in May that he had been dealing with a “mystery” ailment that affected him throughout both the regular season and playoffs. His quick response now appears to put to rest any lingering concerns about the issue carrying over into the new season.

Mark Kirton Passes Away

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Former NHL forward Mark Kirton, who spent six seasons in the league, passed away on Sunday, per a league announcement. He was 67.

Kirton played 266 games in the NHL from 1979 to 1985. This included stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs (who drafted Kirton in the third round of the 1978 NHL Draft), the Detroit Red Wings, and the Vancouver Canucks. His most productive season came in 1981–82, when he posted a career-high 42 points with the Red Wings. Interestingly, his career high in goals (17) came during his final season with the Canucks.

An advocate for ALS research, Kirton joined the board of ALS Action Canada after being diagnosed with the disease in 2018. Though his prognosis eventually left him confined to a wheelchair, it never diminished his unwavering efforts to advance research and raise awareness for ALS. This included his efforts to unify all seven Canadian-based NHL teams to raise funds for imperative research. Nine months later, Kirton’s long-time friend and ex-NHL Darryl Sittler announced on Parliament Hill in Ottawa that Kirton’s seven-team effort raised more than $1 million. That same day, Wayne Gretzky, who was in attendance for the announcement, called Kirton, “A hero of mine.”

The NHL Alumni Association also announced Kirton’s passing, highlighting his strength, compassion, and the lasting legacy he leaves behind—both in the hockey world and within the ALS community.

“Mark’s career in the NHL was defined by determination, teamwork, and heart. Off the ice, he brought those same qualities into his fight against ALS. Faced with one of life’s toughest challenges, he chose to become a voice and champion for others, raising awareness and inspiring hope. His courage was unshakable, his advocacy was selfless, and his spirit touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Mark was not only a teammate but also a friend, mentor, and role model,” the release said.

Kirton is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their three children. Pro Hockey Rumors sends our condolences to Kirton’s family, friends, and loved ones.

Mikael Kotkaniemi Hired As European Scout

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  • The Maple Leafs have hired Mikael Kotkaniemi as a European Scout, Kotkaniemi announced on LinkedIn. He has been a coach in Finland for the better part of the last two decades including at the Liiga level and most recently coached Finland’s Under-18 program.  This will be Kotkaniemi’s first scouting role and the first time working for an NHL franchise.

Jarnkrok Now Fully Healthy After In-Season Surgeries

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  • Maple Leafs winger Calle Jarnkrok missed most of last season after undergoing groin and sports hernia surgeries in mid-November. While he returned down the stretch, he struggled to the point of being scratched at times.  The veteran told Gefle Dagblad’s Marcus Hagerborn that he knew when he had the procedures that he wouldn’t be fully healthy for a while upon returning.  However, he noted that he has gotten back to that point just recently which is a good sign heading into training camp next month.  Jarnkrok has one year left on his contract with a $2.1MM cap charge and a solid, healthy start to next season might make their current efforts to move him a little easier.

Kyle Clifford Announces Retirement

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Longtime NHL winger Kyle Clifford told John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor last night that he’s retiring from his playing career.

Clifford, now 34, was a relatively notable prospect when the 6’2″ enforcer burst onto the scene. He was a second-round pick in 2009 – an early one at that – out of the OHL’s Barrie Colts, and showed legitimate offensive promise in his post-draft year when he clicked at nearly a point per game. Instead of returning to Barrie for a fourth and final junior season, he cracked L.A.’s roster out of camp in 2010, kicking off his pro career.

The Kings drafted Clifford with the knowledge that he’d rarely be anything more than a fourth-line agitator, but they hoped he had some more offensive tools in his skillset than other comparable players. That projection largely turned out to be true. He immediately became a fixture in the Kings’ lineup upon turning pro, never spending too long as a healthy scratch. He played a part in both of the Kings’ Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014 – including recording an assist on Alec Martinez’s overtime winner to seal the second one.

Clifford spent nearly a decade in the Kings’ organization, averaging 10:17 of ice time per game. His best season came in a Kings uniform in 2018-19, when he broke the 10-goal and 20-point marks for the first and only time with an 11-10–21 scoring line in 72 appearances. He recorded 60 goals, 69 assists, 129 points, and 819 PIMs in 660 games for L.A., ranking 11th and 12th in franchise history in the latter two numbers, respectively.

His time in SoCal came to an end in 2020. He was sent to the Maple Leafs in the Jack Campbell/Trevor Moore deal and recorded three points and 23 PIMs in 16 games for them before reaching free agency in the fall amid the pandemic. He landed a two-year deal with the Blues worth $1MM per season, but he was deployed more as a 13th/14th forward and only made 52 appearances for them before getting traded back to Toronto for future considerations early in the 2021-22 campaign.

That essentially marked the end of his NHL career. He did play 25 games for the Leafs over the next two years, but ended up being waived and assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for most of his tenure, his first full-time minor-league assignment. Clifford remained under NHL contract with Toronto through 2023-24 but spent last season with the Marlies on an AHL contract. He served as an alternate captain for them for the past two years and racked up 59 points and 256 PIMs in 125 games for them since debuting in 2022.

Clifford, while hanging up his skates, isn’t leaving the game. He’s staying in the Leafs organization in their player development department, Hoven relays. He retires with 66 goals, 78 assists, and 144 points in 753 career games, including 905 PIMs and 1,617 hits. All of us at PHR congratulate Clifford on his lengthy career and wish him well as he begins his time in NHL front offices.

Maple Leafs Sign William Villeneuve To Two-Way Deal

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The Leafs announced they’ve signed right-shot defender William Villeneuve to a two-way deal for 2025-26. Financial terms were not disclosed, but in doing so, they took care of their last remaining RFA skater who hasn’t committed elsewhere for the upcoming season. Only goaltender Dennis Hildeby now remains as an unsigned RFA in the Toronto pipeline.

Villeneuve returns to Toronto for his fourth professional season. He was a fourth-round pick by the Maple Leafs back in 2020 out of QMJHL Saint John, where he won a Memorial Cup title two years later.

The 6’2″ rearguard has acclimated reasonably well to the pro game with AHL Toronto. An offensively gifted defenseman, he posted acceptable but stagnant point totals in his first two seasons before enjoying a breakout campaign in 2024-25. He was among the Marlies’ best players, posting a team-high +17 rating while leading their defense in scoring with 40 points (4 G, 36 A) in 55 games.

Villeneuve checked in as the No. 10 prospect in Toronto’s system in Scott Wheeler of The Athletic’s rankings back in January, but he’s undoubtedly climbed up the ladder since then with multiple names ahead of him being traded and his own second-half surge. Age will work against him to some degree – he’s entering his age-23 season with no NHL experience to speak of. But aside from defensive-minded 2024 first-rounder Ben Danford, he’s among their most intriguing defense prospects and may have the highest offensive ceiling out of the group currently in their pipeline.

There isn’t a pathway for him to make a surprise grab for an opening night job out of camp, but some organizational reshuffling has likely pushed him up the ladder for a recall opportunity. A strong start to the season with the Marlies should mean a big-league debut for him at some point in 2025-26.

Marlies Sign Alexander Nylander, Luke Grainger, Brandon Baddock

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The Toronto Marlies have announced that they’ve signed forwards Alexander Nylander, Luke Grainger, and Brandon Baddock each to one-year, AHL contracts. The new deals will mark a return to Toronto for Nylander and Baddock, while Grainger will be making the first move of his career after spending his first pro season in the San Jose Sharks’ system last year.

The trio of signings will be undoubtedly headlined by Nylander – who re-ups with the Marlies after successfully playing through a one-year contract with the club last season. He ranked second on the team in scoring with 23 goals and 44 points across 64 games. That production was enough to earn Nylander five games at the NHL level, though he failed to record any scoring. Nylander was formerly the eighth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but he’s spent the better part of the last eight seasons thriving in the minors but struggling to keep his footing in the majors.

Nylander has racked up an impressive 254 points across 394 games at the AHL level. That includes a career-yaer in the 2022-23 season, when he notched 50 points, split evenly, in 55 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. But despite rivaling point-per-game scoring in the minors, Nylander’s best NHL season stands as the 2019-20 campaign, when he scored just 26 points in 65 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. That was the only season of his career spent solely in the NHL, and an AHL contract suggests he still has ground to gain before earning a spot on top of Toronto’s call-up list.

Nylander will continue to be supported with the Marlies by bruising forward Baddock, who joined the team via a mid-March trade that sent future considerations back to the Rockford IceHogs. Baddock went on to rack up one point and 11 penalty minutes in seven games with the Marlies, bringing his year-long totals up to eight points and 97 PIMs in 45 games. That performance speaks well to Baddock’s M.O. – he’s a hefty winger who earns his keep with big hits and extended time in the penalty box. His best season came in 2018-19, when he recorded 154 PIMs in 67 games with the Binghamton Devils – over 20 more penalty minutes than his next-highest season.

Rounding out the move is depth forward Grainger, who spent the bulk of last season with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder. The small-but-mighty forward signed with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda at the end of the 2023-24 season, and played nine games for the club over the last two seasons. But after notching just one goal in those performances, he was deemed better suited for the third tier of pros. That proved a sensible bet, as Grainger posted 21 points in 36 games of Wichita’s season. A new deal in Toronto should come as a bode of confidence in the 25-year-old forward. He could get a chance to carve out a role in the Marlies’ bottom-six in training camp, but could be headed back to the ECHL if any more conditioning is needed.

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