Tyson Barrie's NHL career is over.

I have some sad news to report on this Monday morning.

According to an official announcement from the National Hockey League, long time NHL veteran Tyson Barrie is hanging up his skates for good. On Monday, Barrie announced his retirement through an official press release via the league's social media channels, marking the end of his remarkable career.

Barrie was originally drafted in the 3rd round (64th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche and was unquestionably an overachiever throughout his career. Despite being picked in the third round, he would go on to play in a whopping 822 regular season games as well as an addition 47 Stanley Cup playoffs games. Barrie finishes his career with 110 goals and 398 assists for a career total of 508 points in the regular season.

Barrie's most recent stint in the NHL came off the back of a proffessional tryout offer with the Calgary Flames, one that would earn him an NHL contract last season. Unfortunately Barrie was made a healthy scratch for the majority of the season before suffering a whiplash injury in March that sidelined him for what remained of the season at that point.

Barrie would only appear in 13 NHL games last season as well as an additional 11 games in the American Hockey League with the Calgary Wranglers, unquestionably a low point in the 34 year old's NHL career.

The news of Barrie's retirement does make sense in the context of his recent struggles, but nonetheless it will be sad to see a long time NHL veteran who delighted fans with his skills as an offensive-minded defenseman hanging up his skates for good.

I would like to wish Tyson Barrie all the best in whatever the future may have in store for him.