‘That’s the standard that we need to get to”

Morgan Barron isn’t in a hurry to reach unrestricted free agency, nor was he looking forward to the challenging process that is arbitration.

So, when it came down to finding a dollar value and term that made sense for the versatile forward, a two-year deal with a modest raise to an average annual value (AAV) of US$1.85 million ended up being the final verdict for Barron and the Winnipeg Jets.

“We talked about different terms, but this is a happy medium. Locking up a little bit of security, but having a chance to continue to progress and earn a little bit more in the future, hopefully,” Barron said in a telephone interview from Halifax on Monday morning.

“I still feel like I have room to grow and a lot more to give, so you don’t want to limit your upside over a long period of time if you feel like you have another level to reach.”

By choosing the two-year term, Barron is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the contract, but that doesn’t mean he already has one foot out the door.

Quite the contrary, actually. This merely allows him to show the Jets what he’s capable of before looking at a longer-range deal.

“From my perspective, it’s a good term to give me an opportunity to go out and prove that I have another level to get to,” said Barron, who will make US$1.7 million in salary in the first season and US$2 million in the second after carrying an AAV of US$1.35 million during his previous two-year deal.

“From the team’s perspective, hopefully, they’re excited to have me here. I’m sure that we’re all hoping for the same thing, that I’m able to take that next step. And I’m confident that I’m going to be able to do that. I’m excited to get back to Winnipeg and get things rolling for next season.”

Wrapping up the negotiation before going to arbitration is always the preferred path, but it’s a part of the process that can help establish a deadline and the urgency that comes with it.

Both Barron and fellow forward Gabe Vilardi filed for arbitration two summers ago before agreeing to the two-year contracts that recently expired.

“I won’t be going to arbitration and I’m grateful for that, but in most cases, it’s mostly a timeline — kind of the be all, end all date of when you can keep negotiating to,” said Barron. “Depending on where you’re at in the process, it’s good to protect that right. You hope that you never need to use it. I’m happy we were able to get it done.”

With Barron’s signing, that leaves the Jets with four more restricted free agents to sign, including defencemen Dylan Samberg and Tyrel Bauer and forwards Parker Ford and Vilardi.

“I’m excited to get back to Winnipeg and get things rolling for next season.”– Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron

According to PuckPedia, the Jets still have just under US$16 million in available cap space, with 22 of 23 roster spots spoken for.

Barron, 26, is coming off a strong season with the Jets, one that saw him produce eight goals and 15 points in 74 games before adding two assists in 13 playoff games, as the Jets reached the second round.

During the stretch run, Barron slid back to his natural position of centre and the transition was seamless, as he played some of his best hockey of the season and won 52.1 per cent of his draws.

With Jets captain Adam Lowry set to miss the start of the campaign as he recovers from hip surgery, it’s unclear at this point if Barron will be asked to stay at centre or move back to the wing.

“It’s always a benefit to keep your options open, in terms of being able to slot in wherever the opportunity arises or wherever the team needs someone to fill a void,” said Barron, who has 30 goals and 60 points in 256 career games with the Jets and New York Rangers.

“That’s something that happened last year and something I want to be able to do moving forward. You want to continue to evolve in as many ways as possible. Keep looking forward and keep climbing the mountain.

“I don’t know if it’s one area specifically. It’s just about continuing to produce more offensively. That will be a focus for the summer, finding ways to get in around the net more and control play. Then, continuing to be someone who is reliable defensively, whether it’s taking faceoffs in the D-zone or penalty killing. Those are areas that are important to my game and my role and my identity on this team.”

Prior to the Jets agreeing to terms with Jonathan Toews, Barron received a phone call from head coach Scott Arniel, outlining the possibility of the future Hall of Famer being added to the mix.

“That’s obviously something that’s really exciting, to be getting a player of that calibre,” said Barron. “He’s one of a handful of players — specifically people my age coming up — (Toews) was a player that everyone loved watching.”

Because Barron plays a physical brand of hockey, is responsible defensively and has some offensive upside, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s moved back beside Lowry on the checking line at some point — especially after the departure of Mason Appleton in free agency.

Barron is encouraged by some of the off-season additions the club has made in free agency, but hasn’t spent much time projecting what the depth chart might look like.

“There have been a lot of changes up front with that forward group,” said Barron. “As always, there are young guys pushing to make the team and all of those good things.

“It’s too early to even worry about where people slot or who is with who. Things change so quickly. For me, it’s about having the best summer I can and positioning myself to help the team have another successful season and, hopefully, (be) even more successful down the line into the playoffs.

Barron kept tabs on the Stanley Cup playoffs after the Jets were eliminated and was thrilled for former teammate Nate Schmidt getting an opportunity to thrive with the Florida Panthers.

Seeing Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov hand the famous trophy to Schmidt first was quite a sight to behold.

“I enjoyed that,” said Barron.

“I enjoyed watching the celebration videos too. (Schmidt) looked like he had some fun. He’s awesome. A great human being and one of the most positive guys. To see him go from being bought out last summer and heading to a new opportunity and getting a new contract with the Utah Mammoth, I’m just really happy for him.

“To see the way he was able to flip what people would see as a tough situation and to turn it around into what he did, it’s great to see and something that he should be really proud of.”

Following the lead of the Panthers is the goal for the Jets as they try to build on a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season that also included six of the 16 playoff wins that are required to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

“You look at Florida and what they’ve been able to build. The standard and the recipe is right there,” said Barron.

“They’ve been able to do it two years in a row, with pieces moving in and pieces moving out. With guys growing and getting older, they still find ways to get things done. To me, it’s impressive to watch their consistency on a nightly basis, the attitude they play with. They’re intent to come out every night and impose themselves on their opponents.

“It’s a good model for teams to follow. Every roster and every group is going to be unique, but that’s the standard that we need to get to.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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