Good signing Thursday by GM Greg Sherman and the rest of the Avalanche front office. two weeks before training camp begins, giving the Avs everybody on board.
The $5.2 million, two-year deal is good for both Barrie and the Avs, given that Barrie gets good money and decent term until he becomes a restricted free agent again in 2016, and the Avs invest in the young defenseman without front-loading it for 2014-15 and allowing the team some cap wiggle room. His cap hit will be $2.6 million, the two-year average.
According to Capgeek.com (and my quick accounting while covering the PGA at Cherry Hills), the Avs will be approximately $1.7 million under the $69M cap once Barrie’s numbers get into its books, with one player to be reassigned to get down to the 23-man roster limit. Thus, the Avs likely will be at least $2.5M under the cap when the season begins, barring trade, injuries, etc.
The Avs’ salary structure gives them room to roam for free agents and others for 2015-16, after the contracts for forwards Daniel Briere and Cody McLeod and defensemen Brad Stuart, Jan Hejda and Ryan Wilson expire — freeing up approximately $14.45M. Not saying Colorado won’t resign those guys … but you get the picture.
