from Mike Chambers of the Denver Post,

Tyson Barrie helped the Avalanche realize that he was a hot commodity, that the NHL was moving to defensemen like him.

Size no longer mattered, and pushing the pace with a one-man breakout became a thing. Barrie’s ability to attack was much more important than his ability to defend.

But suddenly — and partly thanks to the 2017 trade of Matt Duchene to Ottawa — the Avs found themselves with a handful of Barries in teenagers Sam Girard, Cale Makar and Bo Byram. Girard, now 21, and Byram, 18, were indirectly acquired from the Duchene deal, and in 2017 the Avs realized you have to draft elite defensemen in the first round, and they selected Makar No. 4 overall.

Makar’s addition during the playoffs in April made Barrie and his expiring 2020 $5.5 million contract expendable, and then the Avs drafted Byram with the fourth overall pick in the June 21 draft.

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from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,