Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of Getty Images
- Name: Cam Barker
- Position: D
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 206 lbs
- Birthdate: 1986-04-04
- Eligible for Draft: 2004
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Acquired: 1st round, 3rd overall, 2004 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago
- Playing In: Pro
Cam Barker
Prospect Grade: 7.5 B (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: John Jaeckel
History
In 2003-04, Winnipeg native Cam Barker netted a career-high 65 points in 69 games and 12 in 20 post-season contests, helping the Medicine Hat Tigers take home the WHL championship. But despite being chosen to play for Team WHL at the annual Canada/Russia Challenge Series, Barker surprisingly did not receive an invite to Team Canada's development camp for the World Junior Championships. Instead, he suited up for Canada's entry at the 2003 U-18 World Cup where he only saw sparse duty as the team's seventh defenseman.
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Barker with the third overall pick in 2004.
A serious bout of mononucleosis interrupted Barker's 2004-05 campaign, causing him to be sent home after five games at the World Junior Championships and to miss all but 52 games of the regular season.
Barker also suffered through injury in 2005-2006, playing just 26 games for Medicine Hat, registering five goals, 13 assists and 63 penalty minutes. He did make his NHL debut with the Blackhawks that season, appearing in one game.
After suffering a broken ankle in the 2006-2007 preseason, Barker came back to split the remainder of the regular season between Norfolk (AHL) and the Blackhawks.
Read HF's 2006 interview with Barker here.
Talent Analysis
Barker epitomizes the old maxim that defensemen take longer to develop than forwards. Where fellow Blackhawks Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and even James Wisniewski have developed faster than Barker at this point, the young blue-liner continually shows flashes of the big-time player he can become.
He is big and strong now, and believed to be able to add another ten pounds of muscle before he is fully mature. And his game is at its best when he uses his size. When he does, he easily manhandles NHL players along the boards.
He is also offensively gifted. Few players possess the ability Barker does to penetrate the zone and set up a power play.
Barker has been dogged by injuries, but appeared to come on a bit toward the end of the 2006-2007 season with the Blackhawks. He needs to continue to work on his skating, and to play aggressively, using his size and strength to his advantage.
Future
Stats
Profile Last Updated: March, 5th 2008
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