There's zero point in selling off Barrie for something as low as Pouliot+2017 first+Yakupov. The Avalanche can go to arbitration, keep him for another year or so, and then get a package of similar use or value later on.
I'm not sure if any of their lefties are good on their offside, but if not, Colorado has no depth on the right side behind Johnson if Barrie is traded. Colorado aren't rebuilding, so it makes me think that if Colorado are moving Barrie, they have an idea of what it would take to get Trouba or another RD via trade to replace him but need to get a player back for Barrie that would make them comfortable moving that piece. Maybe they need to get RNH or Leon Draisaitl back to move Duchene for Trouba. Edmonton doesn't have any top 4 RDs they could include in a deal for Barrie, so as trade partners, it is a bit of a weird move if COL doesn't have a plan in mind to fill that RD spot behind Johnson.
An ask being huge is also relative. I'm sure the price for Barrie is very high, but the fact that it came from Vancouver radio might mean that the analysts on the radio who are immersed in the Canucks might be biased when it comes to Canucks pieces and see them as more valuable than they are. This isn't something exclusive to Vancouver, every fan base or media person who knows everything about their teams lineup and prospect pool might over value certain pieces just because of how well they know them compared to other teams pieces as well as how emotionally attached they are to each piece as a fan or follower of the team.