Tyson Barrie got paid.
Hours before an arbitrator was scheduled to issue a decision, the Colorado Avalanche signed the 25-year-old defenseman to a four-year deal worth $22 million.
The contract makes Barrie the fifth-highest paid player on team.
Barrie, who was the only restricted free agent to actually go to arbitration, will make $5 million, $5.25 million, $5.75 and $6 million over the course of the contract.
The offensive-minded Barrie is going into his sixth NHL season. Last year, he recorded 13 goals and 36 assists. He was tied for 13th among NHL defensemen with 49 points.
Now that they’ve locked up Barrie, the Avalanche have about $1 million in open cap space.
