"We are excited to add one of the NHL's most consistent offensive producers from the blueline in Tyson Barrie to our roster and a talented forward with high upside in Reid Schaefer to our ever-growing prospect pool with this trade," Poile said. "At the same time, this trade bolsters our number of potential draft picks over the next two years, including another first-round selection in this summer's NHL Draft, which will be hosted at Bridgestone Arena.
"On behalf of the entire organization, we want to thank Mattias and his wife Ida for their contributions to the Predators both on and off the ice over the last 12-plus years. The role he played in our franchise's accomplishments cannot be overstated - from being a staple of our leadership group, including serving as an alternate captain; to helping guide us to a Stanley Cup Final, a Presidents' Trophy and two Central Division titles; and to being a constant positive presence in our efforts to grow the game in our community. We wish Mattias and his family all the best in Edmonton and thank him for all he did during his time in Nashville."
Barrie, 31 (7/26/91), is tied for 11th among NHL defensemen in points this season with 43 (10g-33a) in 61 games for the Oilers. Entering Tuesday, the 5-foot-11, 197-pound blueliner has posted nine multi-point efforts and is coming off of a six-game point streak from Feb. 15-25 (3g-5a), his second of at least that many games this season. Barrie's 28 power-play points (4g-24a) are the most out of NHL players at his position, helping Edmonton own the League's best percentage on the man-advantage at 31.9 percent.
Originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round (64th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Barrie owns 478 points (105g-373a) in 744 career games. Since his first full season in 2013-14, his 465 points (103g-362a) are the seventh-most among NHL defensemen, with Predators Captain Roman Josi sitting third on that list with 562 (147g-415a). A consistent producer on the power play, his 196 points on the man-advantage since 2013-14 are the eighth-most out of League blueliners, and he has recorded at least 20 power-play points six times, with a career high of 30 (7g-23a) established in 2017-18 with Colorado. Barrie has tallied 20 points (2g-18a) in 46 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, most recently skating in 16 with Edmonton in 2022, where he had five points (1g-4a) and averaged 18:18 of ice time. The Victoria, B.C., native has represented his native Canada at three major international events, including two World Championships - winning gold in 2015 and claiming silver in 2017 - and at the 2011 World Junior Championship, taking home a silver.
Schaefer, 19 (9/21/03), in skating in his fourth season with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds in 2022-23 and sits tied for fourth on his team in goals (23) and sixth in points (47). The 6-foot-3, 215-pound forward is tied for fourth in the WHL in game-winning goals with a career-high seven and has scored four times on the power play after tallying nine such goals in 2021-22. The Edmonton, Alta., native owns eight points (4g-4a) in his last three games for Seattle, including a season-high four-point performance on Feb. 24 vs. Tri-City (2g-2a). Originally drafted by Edmonton in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, he won gold at the 2023 World Junior Championship, suiting up in all seven of Canada's games.
The Predators now own 12 selections in the 2023 NHL Draft, which will be hosted in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena on June 28-29 - one in the second and sixth rounds; two in the first and fifth rounds; and three in the third and fourth rounds. Nashville has nine picks in the 2024 NHL Draft - one in the first, third, fifth and seventh rounds; two in the fourth round; and three in the second round.
