FEATURE: Barrie's sense of belonging

EDMONTON, AB - Tyson Barrie packed as much enjoyment into the shortened 2020-21 NHL campaign as he could on a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers.
You've got to love coming to the rink, and make no mistake, there weren't a lot of dull moments for the 30-year-old blueliner in his short but sensational introduction to life in Edmonton.
"It was fun to come to the rink every day, get on the ice, and work with these guys," Barrie said. "When you're winning games and having personal success, it goes a long way. It was just a lot of fun in a short year."
When you have a season like the Victoria, B.C. product had in an Orange & Blue uniform, it's tough not keeping the good times rolling - especially when it was all done without the presence of one of the League's most boisterous and passionate fanbases in the stands.
With a new three-year contract negotiated and sealed, Barrie will get the chance.
"I can't imagine how much more fun it'll be with fans and getting to see what Edmonton and the fanbase are really like," he said. "It's only going to get better, so I'm excited to be back."

The frenzy of free agency wasn't enough to lure the dynamic offensive defenceman away from Edmonton when a number of offers from around the NHL were on the table. A return to the Oilers was always at the top of his list.
"I think I said this last off-season, you look at teams and you look at where there are opportunities and spots and which way the teams are heading," he said. "I don't think anything's changed with Edmonton being a great fit. At this point, I can just really focus on what's important, and that's being a good teammate and winning games trying to help this team make the next step. It's nice to have a team commit to you, and you can commit to them fully and put everything you have into it."
His teammates will no doubt share similar sentiments to having the NHL's leader for points by a defenceman in '20-21 back in their lineup patrolling the blue line on the club's top pairing with Darnell Nurse. The right shot quarterbacked the League's most potent power play, where he recorded 23 of his league-leading 48 points in 56 games last season.

"I think Nursey and I settled into a nice role together and we enjoyed playing together," Barrie said. "Obviously being able to be on that power play and help them continue to be dominant, that was kind of the hopes going into the year. It doesn't always pan out, but it did last year in a shortened season.
"I think this year it's only going to get better."
There are the attachments and the friendships you develop with teammates, and the support he received from the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Darnell Nurse reassured him of his desire to re-commit to the process he's become a major part of in Edmonton.
"There were all reaching out and asking if I was staying," he said. "There were some points when I didn't really know, so when you've got guys like that who have your back and want you around, it makes you want to be around. Connor called me [Wednesday] morning and the boys texted me, so it's nice to be wanted. I'm good buddies with all of them and they're great players, so I think we have a good thing going and a great group of guys. The sky is the limit."
Without the task of adjusting to a new team and a new city under difficult circumstances, Barrie believes the consistency of a three-year deal and a normal season will have him ready from the get-go when the '21-22 season gets underway in October.
"I was trying to figure out where I fit in and what my role was and all that," Barrie said of his first few weeks as an Oiler. "Once I did, I think I excelled. There are no questions coming into this year about the guys, the coaches, or the situation, so I should be able to pick it up right where I left off. Hopefully I carry that throughout the whole year.
"Obviously it was a little disappointing with how we ended the year last year, and I think we can only go up from there."