"I am very excited to work for an organization that has a chance to win every year and am looking forward to working with this impressive coaching staff," said Barr.
Barr has spent the past nine seasons coaching in various capacities in the NHL, serving most recently as an associate coach of the Florida Panthers during the 2016-17 season. Prior to his time in Florida, Barr served as an NHL assistant coach for eight seasons, with stops in Buffalo (2015-16), New Jersey (2011-15), Minnesota (2009-11) and Colorado (2008-09). Barr was a member of Peter DeBoer's coaching staff during his four-year tenure with New Jersey, helping the team reach the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.
The 56-year-old Barr spent four seasons as the head coach and general manager of the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2004-08, where he was named the Matt Leyden Trophy winner as the OHL's Coach of the Year in 2005-06. In addition, he was selected to coach Canada's National Summer Under-18 Team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in 2007.
Prior to his OHL coaching tenure, Barr spent three seasons (1997-2000) as an assistant coach with the Houston Aeros and one season as the team's head coach (2000-01), helping the team set a franchise record with a league-leading 54-15-13 record en route to the IHL Turner Cup. He transitioned to the team's general manager for two seasons (2001-03), helping the team win a Calder Cup in 2003.
Barr collected 332 points (128 goals, 204 assists) and 520 penalty minutes in 614 NHL games played during his 13-season NHL career with Boston, the New York Rangers, St. Louis, Hartford, Detroit, New Jersey and Dallas. He finished his playing career as a player/assistant coach in the IHL with the Orlando Solar Bears from 1995-97, his first foray into coaching.
The Toronto native and his wife, Debbie, have two children, a daughter Allison and a son, Ryan.
