Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.whl.ca
- Name: Joe Barnes
- Position: C
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 210 lbs
- Birthdate: 1986-06-16
- Eligible for Draft: 2004
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Acquired: Trade with Carolina, 2007
- Playing In: Pro
Joe Barnes
Prospect Grade: 6.0 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: Leslie Treff
History
At first glance, it would appear that Saskatoon Blades center Joe Barnes is the complete package. Not only does he stand at 6’3, 210lbs, but he also put up an impressive 62 points while playing in all 72 games for the Saskatoon franchise, a significant improvement over the 22 points he had the previous season. In fact, Barnes was so successful in his overall development that he was named both the club’s most improved player and most dedicated player.
But as talented as the Winnipeg, Manitoba native is for a player his size, his mental makeup may hold him back. That knock, though, seems to be the only deterrent, who chose not to opt into last year’s draft after suffering a neck injury at the 2004 Under-18 World Championships.
2005-06: Barnes had 52 points in 55 games (25 goals) and was near the top of his team in plus/minus with a +11 rating. He was also a big part of the reason the Blades went to the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Medicine Hat Tigers. In seven playoff games the 19-year-old had two goals and four assists.
2006-07: As a rookie with the Albany River Rats, Barnes managed to get in 15 games at the start of the season, scoring two goals and adding an assist, with a +3 rating, before a major concussion cut his season short in early December
Talent Analysis
Scout #1: I have a hard time liking Joe Barnes. I know he’s loaded with abilities but I think he has a problem thinking too much about the game and how he’s playing, what’s happening with the other players who are compared to him. I think he’s lost it and that he won’t recover from it.
Scout #2: I think a lot of people have his draft year in their mind and have trouble getting rid of it; everybody expected a lot more of him than he gave. He’s a big kid that played well and playing for Lorne Molleken brought out the best in him. He’ll probably go in the middle rounds of this draft.
Future
Barnes has the potential to become a traditional third-line forward. A season-ending concussion in December of 2006 hampered his development last year, and it is expected that he will spend the 2007-08 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Stats
Click the link to view Joe Barnes' statistics.
Profile Last Updated: April, 6th 2008
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