Central Notes: Barrie, Lehkonen, Fleury

Over the weekend, news got out that Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie and his camp had been given permission to seek a trade.  Speaking recently with 102.5 The Game (video link), GM Barry Trotz expressed his frustration over the news being leaked and how Barrie himself handled being made a healthy scratch for the first time in his career last weekend.  The 32-year-old has typically been one of the better offensive producers from the blueline in his career with ten straight seasons of at least 38 points.  However, he has been held without a goal and has just ten assists in his first 23 games this season.  Barrie is in the final year of his contract which carries a $4.5MM AAV and with his offensive struggles so far, it might not be a deal that’s easy to move.  Meanwhile, in his latest piece for The Athletic (subscription link), Pierre LeBrun noted that the Preds aren’t particularly inclined to use their last salary retention slot to help facilitate a swap which will only complicate those attempts further.

More from the Central:

• Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen skated ahead of Colorado’s practice today, relays Corey Masisak of The Denver Post (Twitter link). The 28-year-old has been out for the last month due to a neck injury but was able to shed his neck brace late last month.  There remains no timetable for his return but returning to the ice is at least a step in the right direction.  Lehkonen had three goals and five assists in a dozen games before the injury.
• Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury remains undecided about his playing future beyond this season, notes John Shipley of the Pioneer Press. The 39-year-old is in his 20th NHL season and second with Minnesota but this one hasn’t gone as well as his first with the team.  Fleury has played in ten games so far heading into tonight’s action, posting a 3.21 GAA with a .884 SV%.  If those hold, it would be the lowest save percentage of his career and his highest GAA since the 2005-06 campaign.  Fleury is in the final year of his contract, one that carries a $3.5MM cap charge.