Barker played a depth role on the Canucks’ backend in 2012-13, appearing in 14 games while notching two assists and a minus-3 rating. He’s nowhere near the 40-point player we saw with the Blackhawks in 2008-09, but Barker should have an opportunity to catch on with the Canucks again as a seventh or eighth option on the blue line.
Barker looked to be a breakout star in 2008-09 with the Blackhawks, when he scored six goals and added 34 assists. However, in the past two seasons combined, he had only six goals and 20 assists as the bloom came off the rose and Barker found himself on the waiver wire. But the Oilers signed Barker to a one-year contract hoping to have found a diamond in the rough. Barker has talent and is only 25 years of age, so this looks to be a low-risk/high-reward type of signing. The Oilers have yet to state who will pair with Barker and/or if he will play on the power play, but Edmonton does not have many better option in their defensive corps and Barker will get every opportunity to prove he deserves big minutes once training camp opens.
Baker was a major disappointment with Chicago last season (14 points in 51 games) and fell down the depth chart before being traded to Minnesota in February. Barker failed to build upon his 40-point 2009-10 campaign that had many thinking he'd become a blue chip fantasy defenseman. He should get plenty of playing time with the Wild (including the power play) and is a prime bounce-back candidate. He still has the offensive skill set that made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 draft.
The Hawks want the second half of Barker for a full season. Barker finished with his best numbers in his young career with six goals and 34 assists for 40 points. His second half included a nine-game consecutive point streak in March that included a pair of assists in the 6-5 victory over San Jose on March 25. He extended that into the postseason with three goals and six assists in 17 games. Barker is still young at 23 and is the point man on the power-play unit. A good start in the 2009-10 season will go a long way in Barker keeping his minutes on the ice.
Barker started last season with the Rockford Icehogs of the AHL before being recalled in December. In 45 games with the Hawks, he recorded career highs of six goals, 12 assists, 18 points, and 52 penalty minutes. The Campbell signing will strip Barker of ice time this season, but his development should excel under the elder Campbell's tutelage.
Barker is one of the better defensive prospects in the entire NHL. He was hurt early in the season and he ended up splitting the season between Chicago and Norfolk, scoring eight points in 35 games with the Blackhawks and picking up 15 points in 34 games with Norfolk. Barker should have a job in Chicago this season and figures to quarterback the power play. If he is given a decent amount of power-play ice time, Barker could have immediate fantasy value.
The expectations were high for Barker, the third pick overall in the June 2004 draft, to make the leap to the NHL in 2006-07. This was tempered after the defenseman fractured his ankle at the start of training camp was expected to miss four-to-six weeks. With the injury it will be hard to see much from him in 06-07.
The number one prospect for the Blackhawks. He was the teamís first round pick in the 2004 draft. Barker has a hard wrist and slap shot, but is still only 19 and has plenty of seasoning to go through in the next few years.
