Tyson Barrie: For the Love of Hockey, Keep it In!
Come on, Tyson Barrie, reach for that puck. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Defenseman Tyson Barrie is known for being a rover, for skating all around and pinching in. That’s great. His style generates scoring chances. Plus, linemate Nate Guenin has resigned himself to plodding along behind as a shut-down defenseman. (Ok, he didn’t really have much choice anyway.)
However, while Barrie excels in being an offensive defenseman, and he’s even gotten better at delivering big hits, he can’t keep the puck in the offensive zone to save his life. Watch him. If Barrie is actually on the blueline — and I know that’s not a given — the puck squirts past him on a regular basis. Even if he manages to catch it with his speedy skating, all the Avs have to pile out of the zone again and wait for another offensive rush.
I don’t know how you work on that aspect hockey. However, maybe he can join Ryan O’Reilly at a yoga class, learn how to stretch to his limits.
Speaking of O’Reilly and all his forward friends…