Rather have the extra $3M in cap savings by sticking with Hakanpaa. Both are bottom-4 defensemen on the Stars. It really comes down to whether or not they want a bottom-4 RD that plays no offense (Hakanpaa) or a RD that plays no defense (Barrie).

I'd rather see Dallas focus the rest of their cap space on signing Robertson and Oettinger than replacing a bottom-4 RD with another bottom-4 RD.

It’s gonna cost a pretty penny to dump Barrie and his 4.5 million dollar cap hit

I don’t think he’ll be THAT much of a cap dump. I like his offensive game. Although you get no defence it’s still not that bad to have a player of his calibre.

Why? Barrie is worth more than 4.5... he was offered more before coming to Edmonton and all he's done since joining Edmonton is have success...this narrative of Barrie is completely false.

No defence? He's played 4 rounds of playoffs for Edmonton was solid easily argued oilers most consistent d in every round.

Oilers won't be moving Barrie until next offseason at the earliest.

barrie has been HEAVILY carried by kulak, his defensive numbers away from kulak have been not so good both under tippett and woodcroft and he'll most likely play 3RD pair with broberg which was one of our worst pairs all year. Kulak was by far Edmonton's best most consistent D-man shutting down almost every rush play that came his way. Love barrie as human and probably a good locker room guy to have but paying 4.5M for 3rd pairing offensive defensemen is stupid when our offense is loaded with guys like Mcdavid, Drai, Kane and hyman + we have Bouchard to take over PP1 Duties and Puck moving D-men like nurse, kulak and Broberg. Trading barrie for any bottom 4 shut down D-man making 2M or less would allow us keep the forward group.

I it odd that no matter what Barrie does never seems to get any credit. Against the jets in the playoffs the year before it was all nurse now its all kulak. Maybe Barrie just tightens up his game and plays better when it matters the most. That's how I've grown to see him and exactly what I'd be wanting both in the dressing room and on the ice. I personally don't agree with bouchard being a smart candidate to take barries role right now. First I think Barrie is far better suited for the pp unit since he's better at walking the blue line and keeping clearing attempts in the offensive zone he's faster at moving the puck to Leon or nuge who typically play in his passing zones. Bouchard has a bigger better bomb absolutely give him that but oilers don't operate a volume shooting pp so that point shot is very secondary option. Also handing that role over to bouchard right now will double his next contract because of how lethal that unit is so yes paying 4.5 million for someone to play third pair role might not be ideal it is however keeping the cap moving forward more manageable. It's not holding bouchard back if that role is being occupied with a proven very efficient player bouchard has to take and earn it.

His even strength offense AND defense are both terrible. He's purely a PP defenseman right now.

Facts ☝️

And that’s supposed to mean he did all the defensive work? Settle down.

You said no defence I'm pointing out that during the playoffs when it matters he does bring a defensive game...

Clearly it worked out so well against Colorado. Or maybe he just doesn’t impact the game at all on the defensive side. His defence partner was Brett Kulak and Kulak is you know. A much better defensive defencemen.