hola - I was probably one of Barron's biggest fans so i'd like to share some of my thoughts
Barron is a mammoth of a player with a good shot and great size. Very often engages physically on the boards and in open ice. He has played both C and W with the Rangers org but mostly C at the AHL level where he did quite well. Not really any clear reasons why he didn't get much of a chance last year, and most of us thought he'd be a regular this year. Gallant has overtly not favored Barron since he got here.
Barron has one glaring weakness and it's that he overthinks a lot and doesn't process the NHL game very fast. For a player with his skating (it is not good), it often makes him look ineffective. He is more than willing to engage physically but his ability to identify time and opportunity to do so is lacking. He's kind of a project but he has an NHL skillet. I wish him well
The Rangers didn’t have time to give him a realistic opportunity as he just finished university in 2020. He was getting developed properly in New York and will have more opportunity in Winnipeg. Solid move by Chevy.
That's not entirely true, there were several opportunities he had to play this year. Gallant just preferred AHL/NHL tweeners over him. It was frustrating for us, especially given that AHL lifers were getting games while he was in the pressbox. Gallant has not been a Barron fan since day 1.