Avalanche sign defenseman Barrie to 4-year, $22 million deal

The Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Tyson Barrie seemed to be having trouble coming to terms this summer. Barrie will make $5 million, $5.25 million, $5.75 million and $6 million in the next four seasons, for an annual cap hit of $5.5 million.

The Colorado Avalanche and defenceman Tyson Barrie avoided a contract arbitration ruling by signing a four-year, $22 million U.S. contract on Sunday.

The arbitrator, Elizabeth Neumeier, had 48 hours to announce her decision.

Drafted in the third round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Avalanche, the blue liner put up 13 goals and 49 points for the Avalanche last season. Instead, Barrie agreed to a four-year extension with the Avalanche on Sunday, netting a much-deserved raise entering his sixth season in the National Hockey League. Barrie has averaged 1.15 points per 60 minutes at even strength during that timeframe, 10th among defensemen who have logged at least 2,000 minutes, according to stats.hockeyanalysis.com. Scoring 13, 12, and 13 goals in the last three seasons respectively, while also boasting solid awareness and durability, Barrie is the type of player that all 30 teams in the National Hockey League would love to have.

Barrie was the subject of trade rumors this offseason because he was due a substantial raise from the $3.2 million from last season.