Home / News / Riley Barber, Hershey’s leading goalscorer last season, signs one-year deal with Montreal Canadiens

Riley Barber, Hershey’s leading goalscorer last season, signs one-year deal with Montreal Canadiens

By Ian Oland

 1 Comment

July 1, 2019 2:37 pm

Riley Barber never got an extended look in Washington. Now he’ll try his luck in Montreal.

The Capitals’ sixth-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft has signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Montreal Canadiens where he’ll make $700k at the NHL level and $300k in the AHL. He will also receive $400k in guaranteed salary, meaning Montreal is basically paying him extra if he doesn’t get time in the NHL.

Barber scored 31 goals and put up 60 points last season for the Hershey Bears – both career highs. The forward was especially lethal on the powerplay, scoring 23 PPGs total over the last two years.

The 25-year-old forward played only three games at the NHL level during his time with Washington, all during the 2016-17 season.

NBC Sports Washington’s JJ Regan learned Barber had already made his mind that he would not return in May, during the Bears’ playoff run.

“I’ve been here for a long time and kind of know what Washington feels about me,” Barber said, “So it’ll be nice to see what other teams feel about me especially with the year I had and see how it shakes out in July.”

“I’ve spent a while here,” he added. “Didn’t get a lot of opportunity. I don’t think I’d see myself coming back, but I never know.”

More from the Canadiens:

MONTREAL (July 1, 2019) – Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced today that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract (2019-20) with forward Riley Barber.

The deal will pay Barber $700,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 in the AHL, with $400,000 in guaranteed salary.

Barber, 25, played four seasons with the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate Hershey Bears, suiting up for 237 regular season games and registering 180 points (90 goals, 90 assists) while serving 179 penalty minutes. The 6’00”, 198 lbs athlete added five goals and 10 helpers in 38 career-playoff contests with the Bears.

Prior to making his professional debut, Barber completed a three-year collegiate stint with the Miami University in Ohio hockey program where he collected 54 goals and 69 assists for 123 points and an impressive 1.06 point per game average in 116 games.

Selected in the sixth round by the Capitals (167th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Barber helped Team USA earn the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk