Mark Barberio

History

2006-07: Mark Barberio started his QMJHL rookie season with Cape Breton before being traded in January to Moncton along with a first round pick in the 2007 QMJHL draft for Luc Bourdon. Barberio scored 2 goals with 8 assists and was +12 with 42 PIM in 41 games for Cape Breton and had 1 goal with 6 assists and was -4 with 21 PIM in 19 games with Moncton. Barberio had 2 assists and was -4 with 8 PIM in the Wildcats seven-game, first-round playoff loss to Halifax. Barberio was named to the QMJHL’s Second All Rookie Team.

2007-08: Barberio was the second-leading scorer and a stable force on the blueline in his first full season with Moncton. Barberio scored 8 of his 11 goals on the power play with 35 assists and was -3 with 75 PIM in 70 games for a Wildcats team that had the second-worst record in the QMJHL. Barberio played for Canada Atlantic at the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

2008-09: Barberio was the leading scorer amongst defenseman for Moncton as the Wildcats went from worst-to-first and won the Atlantic division regular season title. Once again, the bulk of his goals came on the power play as he scored 10 times with the man-advantage and had 15 goals with 30 assists and was +9 with 42 PIM in 66 games. Five of his goals were game-winners. In ten playoff games, he had 4 assists and was +4 with 8 PIM.

2009-10: Barberio had a team best +39 plus/minus as Moncton finished second behind Saint John in the Atlantic Division. Moncton defeated the Sea Dogs in six games in the playoff finals to win the QMJHL championship. Barberio scored 17 goals (7 on the power play and 3 shorthanded) with 43 assists and had 72 PIM in 65 regular season games. Five of his 17 goals were game-winners. In 21 playoff games, he had 5 goals (three on the power play) with 17 assists and was +10 with 12 PIM. Barberio was scoreless with 4 PIM in Moncton’s three Memorial Cup games – which included a 4-3 OT loss to eventual champ Windsor. Barbiero was named to the QMJHL’s Second All-Star Team and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Lightning in May.

2010-11: Barberio skated in 68 games for AHL Norfolk as a 20-year-old in his first pro season. Barbero’s ice-time and power play role increased as the season went on, particularly after prospect Ty Wishart was traded to the Islanders. He finished the regular season with 9 goals and 22 assists and was -1 with 28 PMs. Barberio scored his only goal in the playoffs on the power play and finished -1 with 4 PMs in six playoff contests.

2011-12: Barberio was the leading scorer amongst all AHL defensemen playing for the Lightning’s AHL affiliate in Norfolk in his second pro season. He scored 13 goals with a team-leading 48 assists in 74 games and was plus-28 with 39 penalty minutes. The Admirals finished first in the East Division and won the AHL’s Calder Cup championship. Barberio had 2 goals with 7 assists and was minus-two with 12 penalty minutes in 18 playoff games. He was named an AHL First Team All-Star and received the Eddie Shore trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

2012-13: Barberio made his NHL debut – skating in two April games with the Lightning – and was the leading scorer amongst defensemen for Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse in his third pro season. He was -2 with no points nor penalty minutes averaging 15:29 minutes of ice time in his two games with Tampa Bay. Barberio scored 8 goals with 34 assists in 73 games for Syracuse and was +7 with 44 penalty minutes. The Crunch finished first in the East Division and reached the AHL Finals against Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids. Barberio scored 3 goals with 12 assists and was +5 with 18 penalty minutes. He was re-signed by the Lightning to a one-year contract as a restricted free agent in July of 2013.

Talent Analysis

A highly-touted offensive blue liner, Barberio can lead the rush, make the smart first pass out of the zone and quarterback the powerplay. His puck control skills and his low, hard point shot makes him dangerous in all situation. Barberio has improved his defensive play but can still struggle at times when faced with physical pressure. As with many offense-oriented defensemen, he had a knack for being overly creative and taking high risk chances early in his junior days.

Future

Barberio will need time to adjust to the pace and physicality of pro hockey, but long-range he projects as a play-making, two-way defenseman who can contribute offense from the backline and is a threat on the power play.