A weakness overcome is more powerful than a strength that persists. In the case of Tyson Barrie, he’s now fully aware of his strengths, and weaknesses after going through an arbitration hearing with the Colorado Avalanche. Or, at least he now has a better idea what his employer thinks his weaknesses are.
“We try to tell them (the arbitrators) how great I am and they (The Colorado Avalanche) try to tell them how bad I am. It’s pretty simple.” — Tyson Barrie
Tyson Barrie went the route of former Avalanche teammate Ryan O’Reilly and drug his contract negotiations right up to the last minute of arbitration. Like O’Reilly before him, Barrie managed to come to terms with Avalanche just before the arbitration decision came back. But, unlike O’Reilly, I don’t think the arbitration process has jaded Barrie or signals the end of his love for the Colorado Avalanche. Especially with Roy being replaced as head coach by Jared Bednar and his “upbeat, attacking style.” Tyson Barrie is a better fit than Ryan O’Reilly was, both on the ice and in the locker room. My bold albeit obvious prediction is that Barrie will thrive under coach Bednar and the “upbeat, attacking style.”
Haven't heard a new coach yet who hasn't said when hired wants "up tempo, fast-paced, aggressive" style
— Adrian Dater (@adater) August 25, 2016
True, every coach says they want to play an “up-tempo, fast-paced, aggressive style,” but when it comes to Bednar, I believe him. As head coach of the Cleveland Monsters, Bednar led his team to their first ever Calder Cup Championship with his “fast-paced, up-tempo style.”
Every man has a history and Bednar’s history supports his claim that he want’s to bring that style of play to the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche and to the fans.
So for a player like Tyson Barrie who thrives in a fast-paced attacking style it’s almost like being traded to a brand new team, with a new style and system, but without all of the messy emotions of being traded. It’s a fresh start with a new coach and a new system, but right here in Colorado where he already knows the team, has buddies and adored by the fans. Honestly, I’m not sure there could have been a better scenario after getting the contract done for Tyson Barrie.
As for the process itself, how it affected Barrie’s loyalty to the organization and his moral. I don’t think it’s an issue at all. Barrie has been around tense business dealings his entire life as the son of Lynn Barrie and despite that innocent looking baby-face of his, I think he’s mentally tough and ready to thrive. Barrie and his agents tested the waters, got a benchmark for Barrie’s worth and at the end of the day, did good business. If anything, he’s shrewd.
On a recent call-in interview with the NHL Network Barrie spoke candidly about the arbitration process — all be it carefully — and what he’s able to take from it.
Barrie said of the Arbitration process:
“(It’s) something both side would have liked to avoid, but at that end of the day it’s a business — both sides unders
