Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Shortly before arbitrator Elizabeth Neumeier was to issue her decision Sunday, the Avalanche signed restricted free agent defenseman Tyson Barrie to a four-year, $22-million deal. Barrie will make $5 million, $5.25 million, $5.75 million and $6 million in the next four seasons, for an annual cap hit of $5.5 million.
The Avalanche and the Barrie camp went through a salary arbitration hearing, with Neumeier presiding, in Toronto on Friday, but that didn't rule out a side deal before the decision was announced. Neumeier officially was to email the parties her decision on term and salary, with a brief summary of her reasoning, within 48 hours of the end of the hearing Friday afternoon, but there were indications the timetable might have been pushed back as the parties continued to talk.