Towards the second half of this season, a lot of people were questioning whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs are getting the best out of Tyson Barrie.
Fans, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are now finding out just why Kyle Dubas traded for him in the first place.
It was a rough start for Barrie, who only had seven points in his first 23 games under former head coach, Mike Babcock. But it was after that, when Babcock was let go, that he and his teammates noticed a shift in his game.
Three games. Three goals.
It was a different looking Barrie after that. There are still points where he struggles in the defensive zone, but his point total has changed a great deal.
Since Sheldon Keefe was hired in mid November, Barrie has 23 points — sixth most as a defenseman in the entire league. Among the five players ahead of him, four are tied for second with 25 points, which gives Barrie the third-highest point total.
When Dubas traded for the 28-year-old defenseman — he knew what he was getting. A skilled player, who could quarterback a power play. But that wasn’t Barrie’s job — until Keefe was hired.
But out of Barrie’s 23 points, 17 of them come at even-strength, which puts him in a tie for second with leading Norris trophy candidate, John Carlson.
So he’s not just quarterbacking the power play.
It’s turning out to be just another “normal” year for Barrie.
We all were surprised when Barrie wasn’t playing well, but we understood why. With a new team comes a new system, and then, once a new coach is hired, another new system comes again.
Barrie was not afraid to voice his displeasure with himself. And why not? When you’re coming off a career high 59-point season, you should be asking “why?”
As his season is starting to turn itself around, Barrie now has a glimpse into the end of the season. He’s on pace for 48 points, which would be his fifth-highest point total of his nine year career.
You might think that it may have to do with the extra minutes he’s gotten with Rielly out. However, Barrie hasn’t gotten a ton of extra minutes like you may think. He’s averaged more minutes under Babcock, than Keefe. And that’s even with Rielly out of the lineup.
“Then what caused the spark?”
It could be the relationship between him and Keefe, or the fact that he’s a lot more comfortable in the dressing room now. Whatever it may be though, I’m not complaining, and I am ready to see what else he’s got in store for the rest of this season.
Finally, the Toronto Maple Leafs defensive system is looking up, and, so is Barrie’s point total, which is just amazing. Here’s to hoping he keeps it up and helps give us the push we need to the playoffs.