Shortly before arbitrator Elizabeth Neumeier was to issue her decision Sunday, the Avalanche signed 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 had gone through a salary arbitration hearing, with Neumeier presiding, in Toronto Friday. That didn’t rule out a side deal before the decision was announced. Neumeier 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.