The Colorado Avalanche have signed promising young defender Justin Barron of the QMJHL to an entry-level contract. The deal is for a standard three years. The team announced the signing late Tuesday morning.
We have signed Justin Barron to a 3-year Entry-Level Contract!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/p5OLsOx1fF
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 27, 2021
Avalanche Sign Justin Barron
Barron joins the team after a very good year with the Quebec League’s Halifax program. The 6’2″ blueliner has eight goals and 31 points in 33 games in 2020-21. The point per game rate of .94 is easily the highest of Barron’s amateur career despite the obstacles that the pandemic has created in each of the two most recent seasons. Being an older juniors player certainly contributes to some of Barron’s raw dominance, but the improvement is still promising for fans.
The scouting report on Barron is very positive. While he was not the best defenceman in his class that featured Jamie Drysdale and Jake Sanderson, Barron is no slouch. The Halifax native is a strong skater with a powerful right-handed shot. He could develop into a strong top-four defender if he has fully overcome some earlier injury problems. The Avs have prioritized defencemen heavily in recent drafts and Barron is the latest reflection of that focus.
What This Means For The Future
There is a small possibility that Barron fights for a roster spot in 2021-22, but it’s more likely he develops in the AHL for at least one year. Colorado has a very deep blueline despite the occasional injury in 2020-21. That depth allows them to avoid pushing Barron too hard in-light of his injury past. They also won’t risk overworking someone who just completed a very odd amateur season in Quebec. However, he could easily be an option looking ahead to 2022-23. Some of that will depend on how much other defenders cost or develop, but this is another arrow in the Avs’ quiver. This signing has merely added another strong blueliner to one of the NHL’s absolute best units.
