Picture this—a player with Team USA who has won a gold and silver medal at the Olympics, been named to the national team five times, been to the NCAA championship tournament four out of five years of their college career, and has a single national championship title to go along with it. That is Cayla Barnes’ accolades in a nutshell.
She is all that and more. One of the most exciting college women’s hockey players was drafted fifth overall by PWHL Montreal and recently signed a three-year contract. Not only does she bolster Montreal’s blue line, but she also has the potential to be one of the best defenders that the league has seen. Barnes could even be the next PWHL Rookie of the Year.
How does Cayla Barnes Fix Montreal’s Current Problems?
Based solely on standings and how the season shook out, Montreal doesn’t have too many problem areas. They finished the regular season in second place, behind Toronto, with a record of 10-6, with three overtime wins and five overtime losses. They were swept in the opening round of the playoffs by Boston.
Montreal feels good about their core players. Their top line is anchored by Canadian legend Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Kristin O’Neill. Barnes will add defensive stability and offensive awareness to lead the rush or get the puck to the top performers. In her last season at Ohio State, Barnes had 11 goals and 25 assists, leading defenders. She had a plus/minus of +71, which led the nation.
Stats say a lot about a player, and with numbers like that, it’s almost shocking she slipped to fifth in the draft.
While Barnes isn’t tall like most stereotypical defenders, she can log top-pairing minutes, uses her size to generate more speed while skating, and supports her heads-up play style. Additionally, she had 41 shot blocks for the Buckeyes, proving her capability to reduce shots from getting through to the net.
Montreal’s ultimate goal this season will be to win games and play well to set themselves up for success. Barnes will contribute almost instantly and lift the team around her.
Barnes is a can-do-it-all player. She will fill in on any need that Montreal has. Her resume from college and international play proves that she is ready to make an immediate impact for Montreal. She has played hockey at such a high level for a long time. The jump to the pros is going to be smooth.
Predicting Barnes’ First Year In The League
Fans can expect Barnes to play a lot. From game one to the end of the season, she will be out there on Montreal’s top D pair.
A potential partner could be Erin Ambrose. Ambrose led the defense in points last season and was the PWHL Defender of the Year. Not only will she be able to help Barnes with any transitional issues her game might face going from the NCAA to the PWHL, but they see the game very similarly and will support Montreal’s offense while holding it down on defense.
Barnes has Rookie of the Year potential, but that will depend on a few things. Firstly, will she be able to make the same impact on the ice as she did in college? Based on her international performances throughout the years and her dominance in the NCAA, she will likely make the same impact, if not better. Will she mesh well with the team? It is too early to tell, but her eagerness to sign and join Montreal would lead fans to believe that she feels she belongs and will fit into the system well.
Montreal fans should be excited to have Cayla Barnes signed to the team. She is a high-impact player who will create high-quality chances and give the team opportunities to win. In a star-studded draft class, Barnes is arguably the most prepared athlete to take the leap to the next level due to her experiences and talent.
Main photo by: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
