Player Discussion Justin Barron (recalled 2024-04-06)

[MasterMatt25]

Put up a solid season splitting time between Montreal and Laval. Still needs a little seasoning to reach his offensive potential, but he's good. Yet I've noticed a lot of people on here have Mailloux jumping ahead of him in the depth chart and sometimes omitting him completely in their future plans ideas.

So for this upcoming season, what can we expect from him? Will he start in the minors again or make the team on opening night?

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[Junohockeyfan]

I think he makes the jump permanently this season. He was very shaky to start the season last year but turned it around in Laval and finished strong in Montreal. He has skill, size, speed and offensive potential. All the tools. Just needs time to put it together. I think this is the year he puts together a solid season, particularly on the PP.

The biggest issue with Barron was his decision making last year. When to pinch and when to cover man to man vs zone. He showed significant progress at the end of the season and was playing with some confidence.

 

[Mudz]

I think he makes the jump permanently this season. He was very shaky to start the season last year but turned it around in Laval and finished strong in Montreal. He has skill, size, speed and offensive potential. All the tools. Just needs time to put it together. I think this is the year he puts together a solid season, particularly on the PP.

The biggest issue with Barron was his decision making last year. When to pinch and when to cover man to man vs zone. He showed significant progress at the end of the season and was playing with some confidence.

He still had some bad goals at the WC, he was still puck watching. I feel like playing him with Matheson would be the best to cover for Barron's defensive weaknesses.

I really like how Barron gets the puck to the net. His shots and passes are high quality.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The depth we have on the back end is pretty impressive. Barron’s a young talented blueliner and ordinarily id be trying to learn more about him but the truth is I forgot all about him. We’re so stacked in the back end. Some of these guys are going to wind up getting moved. Refreshing to see such a stockpile of talent coming up.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

He’s intriguing like Dach is for me. Most of the other players we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Dach and Barron are the wildcards for me, both have enormous skill, whether they can transfer over to NHL dominance remains to be seen.

I think both have the talent and if they don’t take the next step it won’t be because of their talent. Both have flaws, but their skills are excellent.

Dach needs to be more of a shooting threat without compromising has passing game too much and Barron needs to work more on his reads and positioning.

 

[GordonGraham]

Very important camp for him he could end up #6 or #10

 

[badfish]

I like him a lot, commented in a previous thread that I think he's shown quite well for his current experience level. This season my hope for him is career highs in games played, points and assists, ideally around 60 gp at least with 20-25 pts and to show continued improvement in his D zone. That would give me a lot of faith he's trending towards a reliable top-4 defenseman.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I like him a lot, commented in a previous thread that I think he's shown quite well for his current experience level. This season my hope for him is career highs in games played, points and assists, ideally around 60 gp at least with 20-25 pts and to show continued improvement in his D zone. That would give me a lot of faith he's trending towards a reliable top-4 defenseman.

It’s a logjam for top four. Guehle, Mailloux, RB, Hutson, Barron, Matheson… crazy the amount of talent coming up. There aren’t enough spaces and we’re going to have to make some decisions.

 

[MasterMatt25]

It’s a logjam for top four. Guehle, Mailloux, RB, Hutson, Barron, Matheson… crazy the amount of talent coming up. There aren’t enough spaces and we’re going to have to make some decisions.

Mailloux is most expendable to me out of that group

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Mailloux is most expendable to me out of that group

Maybe we give a up a better player for a forward... I think it all comes down to what's being offered. I'm fine to deal from a position of strength to address another need.

 

[the]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who's hyped about his potential. It baffles me how quick some fans are to dismiss him and use him as a trade bait.

Justin Barron really impressed me when he got called last season. We need a offensive defenseman and Barron was producing at a impressive pace.

His game needs some polishing in the D zone but that's normal for someone his age. However, I do think he wasn't as bad as some people make it seem.

I don't see Barron going back in the AHL and I genuinely believe we got ourselves a really good player.

 

[Scriptor]

He still had some bad goals at the WC, he was still puck watching. I feel like playing him with Matheson would be the best to cover for Barron's defensive weaknesses.

I really like how Barron gets the puck to the net. His shots and passes are high quality.

How is playing him with Matheson covering for his defensive weaknesses?

While Matheson has been stronger, defensively, than anyone expected, last season, Idon't think he's exactly in the business of covering for another D's defensive weaknesses.

On top of that, in line for line match-ups, playing with Matheson would often have Barron face-off against the opponents' best and expose him even further.

Guhle would be the best pairing partner if you think Barron is ready for top-4 minutes, which don't think he is.

The concern is in his own zone where he doesn't engage with the opponent in the crease (zero physicality, despite not being a midget at 6'2"), he gets caught puck-watching and makes bad decisions when it comes to identifying the right defensive assignment under pressure.

It might improve with repetition, but could also be an underlying indicator of faulty hockey IQ on the defensive side of the puck.

At this pointe looks more like a situational D, with primarily O-zone starts in order to help generate some offense, or more of a PP specialist, but more for a 2nd wave, which is far from as exciting as a Hutson, for example.

Too early to throw in the towel with Barron, but he needs to step up his game and take charge out there.

 

[1909]

Habs gonna keep 8 d-men. So Barron stays. Will he play regular ? That's up to him to grab a full time job. He's got the skills. Confidence is what he is lacking so far.

 

[Scriptor]

It’s a logjam for top four. Guehle, Mailloux, RB, Hutson, Barron, Matheson… crazy the amount of talent coming up. There aren’t enough spaces and we’re going to have to make some decisions.

You forgot Engstrom, IMO, which might end up the cheaper, but still quality, shutdown, pairing partner for Hutson with some physicality on top of it.

At some point, we'll have to choose between Matheson, Guhle, Hutson, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Harris Trudeau and Struble on the left side.

Even if you pull the curtain back all the way to Harris, inclusively, there's still 5 future quality candidates with upside to choose from on the left side!

The argument to move Matheson in the last year of his current contract (three years left), given the age range, especially if Hudson's talent translates immediately to the NHL when he makes the move there, carries a lot of weight, strictly based on the potential return if he keeps the production since returning from his injury last season!

That still leaves four candidates with real upside, with all potentially requiring a top-6 role.

Guhlea Xhekaj and Engstrom can all play the right side, so perhaps all four remain with Habs, with Engstrom being the pairing partner for Hutson?

Guhle - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Hutson - Engstrom

-OR-

Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Engstrom
Xhekaj - Mailloux

Notice I don't really have room for Barron on my top-6, because I believe we get plenty of offense from Reinbacher and Mailloux, compared to what we will get from Barron and I believe that Engstrom can shield Hutson better from his defensive limitations, all while supporting him offensively.

Hopefully, Barron takes a step uo this season, before Mailloux realistically challenges for a roster spot after the trade deadline or next season, and before reinbacj=her steps into the NHL.

That way, we can get an interesting return for him, at least?

Same goes for Harris.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

You forgot Engstrom, IMO, which might end up the cheaper, but still quality, shutdown, pairing partner for Hutson with some physicality on top of it.

At some point, we'll have to choose between Matheson, Guhle, Hutson, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Harris Trudeau and Struble on the left side.

Even if you pull the curtain back all the way to Harris, inclusively, there's still 5 future quality candidates with upside to choose from on the left side!

The argument to move Matheson in the last year of his current contract (three years left), given the age range, especially if Hudson's talent translates immediately to the NHL when he makes the move there, carries a lot of weight, strictly based on the potential return if he keeps the production since returning from his injury last season!

That still leaves four candidates with real upside, with all potentially requiring a top-6 role.

Guhlea Xhekaj and Engstrom can all play the right side, so perhaps all four remain with Habs, with Engstrom being the pairing partner for Hutson?

Guhle - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Hutson - Engstrom

-OR-

Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Engstrom
Xhekaj - Mailloux

Notice I don't really have room for Barron on my top-6, because I believe we get plenty of offense from Reinbacher and Mailloux, compared to what we will get from Barron and I believe that Engstrom can shield Hutson better from his defensive limitations, all while supporting him offensively.

Hopefully, Barron takes a step uo this season, before Mailloux realistically challenges for a roster spot after the trade deadline or next season, and before reinbacj=her steps into the NHL.

That way, we can get an interesting return for him, at least?

Same goes for Harris.

We are stacked on the blueline. Just no way we don't see some moves coming.

 

[MasterMatt25]

We are stacked on the blueline. Just no way we don't see some moves coming.

There will definitely be moves in the future, but there’s still a lot of question marks

Mailloux isn’t NHL ready yet and hasn’t even played in the AHL. In the OHL he was very high flying offense with some defensive mistakes. Can he improve and fix that at a higher level? We don’t know

Will Reinbacher and Engstrom be as good as we expect them to be? Reinbacher we’re expecting to be a top pairing pick, but what is realistic for Engstrom? And can he reach that goal on North American sized rinks?

 

[Rapala]

Very important camp for him he could end up #6 or #10

How do you figure? Barron is on a developmental curve that is far more advanced than anyone else hoping to displace him. He'd have to be some kind of bad to lose his spot. I don't see any job openings on our D this camp.

 

[Scriptor]

There will definitely be moves in the future, but there’s still a lot of question marks

Mailloux isn’t NHL ready yet and hasn’t even played in the AHL. In the OHL he was very high flying offense with some defensive mistakes. Can he improve and fix that at a higher level? We don’t know

Will Reinbacher and Engstrom be as good as we expect them to be? Reinbacher we’re expecting to be a top pairing pick, but what is realistic for Engstrom? And can he reach that goal on North American sized rinks?

There's so many promising options, I doubt we can't fill out a D-Corps with some very good players, in the end.

Reinbacher is a bluechip top-4 RHD, even if he doesn't become a 1st pairing D, as is Guhle, IMO.

There's tons of talent for the 3rd pairing to have a borderline 2nd pairing as a 3rd pairing.

If Matheson can continue on last year's tear trend the season, he is a 1st pairing D.

Worst case, Montreal will need to delve into the UFA market to find a pairing partner for Matheson.

 

[Rob Sense]

How do you figure? Barron is on a developmental curve that is far more advanced than anyone else hoping to displace him. He'd have to be some kind of bad to lose his spot. I don't see any job openings on our D this camp.

agreed. He is likely #4 or 5 at worse presently.

 

[Tyson]

I think he takes major steps this season! It doesn't hurt that he trains with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon in the summer.

 

[MasterMatt25]

Right now I think the best combos are:

Matheson-Savard
Guhle-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris

Extras: Kovacevic/Lindstrom/Wideman

Assuming everyone is healthy at the start of the season

 

[MtlSars]

Right now I think the best combos are:

Matheson-Savard
Guhle-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris

Extras: Kovacevic/Lindstrom/Wideman

Assuming everyone is healthy at the start of the season

With so few vets on D, I'm convinced MSL will go something like:

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Savard
Xhekaj-Harris

Wideman/Kovacevic extras ...

Should be fun to watch

 

[Scriptor]

With so few vets on D, I'm convinced MSL will go something like:

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Savard
Xhekaj-Harris

Wideman/Kovacevic extras ...

Should be fun to watch

Barron should not play with Matheson. Barron should play with Guhle, or Xhekaj.

 

[MasterMatt25]

Barron should not play with Matheson. Barron should play with Guhle, or Xhekaj.

Agreed.

Matheson is a better fit with Savard. Savard is slow, and Matheson's dynamic ability to carry the puck would fit better together.

 

[1909]

Agreed.

Matheson is a better fit with Savard. Savard is slow, and Matheson's dynamic ability to carry the puck would fit better together.

Possibly. But it is leaving te rest of the d-corp with 4 guys with less than a full NHL season under their belt.