The Colorado Avalanche franchise is the only one Tyson Barrie has known during his NHL career.
So, naturally, when he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this week it brought about mixed emotions.
“It is really tough for me to put into words what it has meant to me to live in Denver and play for the Avs the past 8 years” Barrie wrote Wednesday on Instagram. “I can’t thank the organization enough for the opportunity to grow as a player and person. I’ve been surrounded by amazing people my entire time here, from teammates and staff to front office and everybody at the Pepsi Center. You have always looked out for me and made me feel like family.”
Barrie was selected in the third round (64th overall) by the Avalanche in the 2009 NHL Draft while he was a star with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.
Following his junior career, he cut his teeth with the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL for parts of two seasons before becoming a regular contributor in the Colorado lineup during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign.
Gabriel Landeskog is the only Avalanche player to play in more games than Barrie during that stretch. Barrie has been Colorado’s best offensive weapon from the back end, with Nathan MacKinnon and Landeskog being the only Avs players with more points than Barrie over the past eight years.
“I’ve made lifelong friends in hockey and around the city and I’m so grateful for that,” Barrie wrote. “I couldn’t have asked for a better city or environment to start my career in. I may be leaving but Denver will always be special to me and a place I would be proud to call home.”
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