Change of scenery type of move for Carrier, and Barron as well. Who’s just entered a not so enviable position, as a young dman.
A now “former” Top Prospect, who’s already had two teams give up on him, and he’s barely turned 23. Usually that means he has a fundamental issue, and with him it’s not physical talent. There’s great dmen in this league with far less physical talent.
Barron just doesn’t process, or “think the game” at the level to be a very good NHL dman. He also needs that dreaded extra second to make decisions. An extra second that just doesn’t exist in the NHL. So he forces everything.
Those who overcome this, usually have to go back to the basics, and with a few years of maturity and experience, can become a solid, bottom pairing Dman. Usually nothing more though. Problem is, they generally have to bounce around the league, spend time in the AHL, etc. NHL teams just aren’t into developing bottom pairing guys, at the NHL level.
The Avs seen this early and Montreal is at a point now, they can’t afford to keep letting him gain that experience on their NHL roster.
There will be some trying to sell this deal as, “you have to pay for a good, young dman, so Carrier must be a great add.” No. Paying for a good young Dman prospect, was sending a budding U20 prospect like Kiiskinen and a 2nd round pick for Gibson. Not a struggling 5/6 at over $3 million.
Both players in this deal, are being traded because they need a new opportunity.
Neither team wanted to be in this position, and dealt with the issue. Nashville just handed a 5/6, over $3 million AAV, thinking he’d turned into a 4, and he’s having a pretty bad year in Nashville. While Barron just keeps treading water.
Carrier will be looked at, to come home to Quebec, and be one of those veterans in the room on that D-Core. Problem is, he’s always needed protection himself. He played a lot last year (his best year) with Lauzon but it’s the time he played with McDonagh last year, when he was at his best. Protected. Playing a supporting role.
If he can find that role in Montreal, it’ll likely flip this trade for them, as Nashville honestly shouldn’t expect much from Barron finding any light switch. Right now, Nashville wins the trade, because they were able to trade a 5/6 making over $3 million with term, for a 6/7 Dman with upside still, at 1/3rd of the cost.
As for Barron, this is it. The big red flag that he hasn’t been able to shake in Montreal, was Colorado trading him so soon. Teams just don’t trade 6’2” Dmen with offensive upside during their ELC, unless he has a fundamental flaw they missed when drafting him. So it’s always a red flag, and he’s shown nothing to suggest Colorado made a mistake, moving him so early.
The Preds will try sheltering him, and hope something finally clicks.. Maybe playing on a team with Luke Schenn will be good for him. Maybe he can mentor him being through what he experienced. Knowing he doesn’t need to be what he was drafted to be.
Likely not Barron’s last stop though. Could find himself on waivers soon, as like I said, NHL teams aren’t in the business of developing bottom pairing Dmen at the NHL level.
We’ll see, but it’s a good change of scenery trade for both teams. Montreal needs more stability on their back-end and can absorb that AAV if he’s bad, and Nashville needs to change things up.
Doubt we ever look back at this as core altering trade.
