Is a return to Toronto in the cards for a former Maple Leafs defenseman this season?

As August comes to a close, the season of signing players to professional tryouts (PTOs) begins, with several experienced NHLers still looking for opportunities. An intriguing PTO candidate the Maple Leafs may consider is ex-Leaf Tyson Barrie.

The former Avs, Oilers and Predators blueliner is a polarizing figure in Toronto after being acquired, alongside Alexander Kerfoot, for fan favorite Nazem Kadri in July 2019. His one-year stint with the Maple Leafs was marked by defensive lapses and a play style that did not mesh well with the team's system, leading to an underwhelming impact.

After his time with the Maple Leafs, Barrie posted impressive offensive numbers with the Oilers. However, his performance with the Predators last season was rather forgettable, as injuries hindered his ability to find his rhythm, leading to a disappointing 15 points and -10 rating in 41 games.

Despite these setbacks, Barrie could be a valuable addition to the Maple Leafs on a PTO. The current Toronto defense corps lacks Barrie's offensive prowess. Although Barrie is not the same player he was when he played for the Colorado Avalanche, he might be well-suited for a 7th defenseman role at this stage in his career.

Leafs GM Brad Treliving was recently quoted as saying "you can never have too many defensemen", so it wouldn't be surprising to see the Leafs sign multiple veteran defenders to PTOs as we approach training camp if for no other reason than to have the level of competition elevated for camp and the pre-season.

Is it realistic to expect Barrie to receive another look in Toronto? Maybe, maybe not. But with at least one roster spot on the Leafs' blueline potentially up for grabs, it wouldn't be a shock to see Barrie, or a player with a similar offensive skill set, receive a look at camp as the Leafs continue to try to improve their blueline.

Source: HockeyDB
Tyson Barrie statistics

Source: PuckPedia
Tyson Barrie player profile