With the Montreal Canadiens goaltending situation settled for next season, the team moved on to depth bringing in Riley Barber on a one-year deal.
The time delay between signings was pretty significant. It was known the Montreal Canadiens would sign Keith Kinkaid before the market officially opened up, and fans were sitting on their hands waiting for the next domino to fall. It may not be a guaranteed name to play on the Habs next season, but the organization did add skill withing bringing on Riley Barber.
Barber is signed to a one-year two-way deal that will see him make $700,000 in the NHL but $300,000 in the AHL with a guaranteed $400,000 salary.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract ($700,000 NHL and $300,000 AHL – guaranteed salary $400,000) with free agent forward Riley Barber.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/t6jWARe0fC
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 1, 2019
The 25-year-old was a sixth-round pick from 2012 via the Washington Capitals and has most of his professional experience coming from time in the minors. Barber debuted in the AHL with the Hershey Bears back in 2015 after completing his college years at Miami University.
He’s put up at least 50 points in ever season accept the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaign. Barber only played 39 games in the former year putting up 13 goals and 14 assists while the season afterwards was relatively down year despite still getting 20 goals. Barber’s last season with the Bears was a career one with 31 goals and 29 assists for 60 points in 64 games.
What Barber adds is high-end skill for the Laval Rocket to deal with. The Montreal Canadiens did something similar last free agency when they brought in Kenny Agostino who was a known AHL destroyer. However, the Habs found a way to bring Agostino into the lineup who in turn, changed his game up to match the style of a Claude Julien-type fourth liner.
Barber can have the same story, but it’ll be more important for him to be a key player for Laval. The Rocket has been in a dark age for a number of years dating back to their time as the St. Johns Ice Caps. Having that kind of talent, in a likely top-six role, will be a good way to get Laval a little more danger in combination with the prospects expected to be on the team.
At the same time, if Barber can have a reliable impact like Agostino did, the Montreal Canadiens can make use for him as well.
With the bigger names off the table, the Habs may continue to make smaller deals like this. But it doesn’t mean they are deals of little importance.