AGAINST BARRIE: Do the MATH and Look Ahead
Do not forget. Although he is the most certain to sign, Tyson Barrie is a Restricted Free Agent. He is 24 years old. He is a 50-point defenseman. Think he will sign your everyday top-four deal? Think again.
Expect the Barrie party to look for at least $5.5 million AAV, perhaps even up to $6.5 million per year. The contract is surely going to be at least four years long, most likely about six years in total.
The Vancouver Canucks wanted to bring in a big free agent forward, didn’t they? Once again, get forwards who can score, get defenders who can defend. Barrie likely means that the Canucks won’t be able to sign much with the remaining cap space, which currently stands at about $9.5 million.
But that’s not the only problem. Look ahead into the future.
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Sven Baertschi needs an extension. Bo Horvat needs an extension as his ELC concludes this coming season. Ben Hutton and Nikita Tryamkin are both becoming Restricted Free Agents, while Erik Gudbranson will require an extension sooner rather than later.
Oh, and Jacob Markstrom is heading to unrestricted free agency next year. Please keep him here and not rush sophomore pro Thatcher Demko into the number one role.
The Canucks need money to spend next year. Including Sven Baertschi, that list reads starting netminder, three potential top-four defensemen, and two top-six forwards who will need to be kept.
Want to keep the youth movement going? How about not spending $40 million on Tyson Barrie over the next six years.
Next: FOR BARRIE: The Nashville Model is Working