Could the Edmonton Oilers Reunite with Tyson Barrie?
The Edmonton Oilers’ defense took a hit recently when Philip Broberg joined the St. Louis Blues through an offer sheet.
This sparked media discussions about the possibility of the Oilers pursuing a right-handed defenseman before the 2025 trade deadline.
However, recent reports indicate that the Oilers’ management might not be waiting for the trade market to develop.
On Friday, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported that the team has been reaching out to free agents, including Justin Schultz, Tyson Barrie, and Kevin Shattenkirk.
Both Schultz and Barrie have previously played for the Oilers—Schultz was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016, and Barrie was dealt to the Nashville Predators before the 2023 trade deadline. Among these, Barrie is more familiar to the current Oilers roster.
The day before Seravalli’s report, Caleb Kerney of The Hockey News referenced a tweet from TSN’s Dustin Nielson, indicating that the Oilers had discussions with Barrie’s representatives.
Nielson mentioned that Barrie was well-regarded by his former teammates, but questioned whether Barrie would fit into the Oilers’ current defensive setup.
On Sunday, Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal suggested that a reunion between Barrie and the Oilers is possible.
He noted that while the management has shown interest in Schultz and Shattenkirk, Barrie might be the better choice, highlighting that Barrie enjoyed his time in Edmonton and would be open to returning.
Kerney argued that Schultz or Shattenkirk could also be good options, with Schultz averaging 16:28 of ice time over 70 games with the Seattle Kraken last season, contributing 10 of his 26 points on the power play.
Shattenkirk, on the other hand, notched 24 points in 61 games with the Boston Bruins while playing 15:47 per game, with 11 of those points coming on the power play.
Barrie, during his stint with the Predators last season, played in 41 games, earning 15 points and averaging 18:19 of ice time per game.
Kerney believes Schultz or Shattenkirk could be more cost-effective options who can perform well against mid-tier and lower-tier competition. Whether the Oilers share this view remains to be seen.
