Ex-Edmonton Oilers player Tyson Barrie considering career in hockey media
Ex-Edmonton Oilers defenceman Tyson Barrie announced his retirement over the summer, but he isn’t leaving hockey behind completely.
The veteran of over 800 NHL games earned a reputation for being one of the league’s most beloved teammates throughout his career. No matter where he played, whether it was with the Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, or the Toronto Maple Leafs, Barrie seemed to endear himself to his teammates.
Now, it sounds like Barrie is going to try to translate that likable personality over to the media side of the game. The 34-year-old announced that he is going to give hockey media a shot on the latest edition of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast with fellow ex-NHLers Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney.
“I am going to dip my toe into media, maybe and see how it goes,” Barrie said. “See if I am well-received and I like it… I don’t know exactly where that’ll be.
“Biz has been helping me a little bit, walking me through his vast media knowledge.”
It sounds like former #Oilers D Tyson Barrie is pondering a career in hockey media now that he's retired…
One of the most well-liked teammates of his time, so I'd say he has a good shot in this next chapter
(video via @spittinchiclets ) pic.twitter.com/vQRa76amC2
— Preston Hodgkinson (@NHLHodgkinson) September 16, 2025
The Victoria, B.C., native was drafted 64th overall by the Avalanche back in 2009 and spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career in Colorado. There he established himself as one of the league’s premier offensive defencemen, collecting three 50-point seasons and one 49-point campaign.
Outside of Colorado, Barrie is most well-known for the three seasons he spent with the Oilers, from 2020-21 to 2022-23. He led all NHL defencemen in scoring in 2020-21 with 48 points in 56 games, but failed to capture a single Norris Trophy vote.
Barrie retired this past summer after failing to catch on with the Calgary Flames last season. Though he managed to successfully parlay a PTO into a one-year deal, Barries appeared in just 13 games with Calgary.
If a career in hockey media doesn’t pan out, Barrie could always shift focus to the beer company. The ex-NHLer founded “Chilly Ones” in 2024 and has collaborated with various teammates on the brand, including former Oilers goalie Mike Smith and Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon.
It remains to be seen if Barrie can catch on with a media company in time for the upcoming season, but you can bet that he will have a lot of people cheering for him if he does find a way onto TV screens.