Biography

Career Notes

Enters his seventh professional season in 2012-13. Barker was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with Chicago on 10/14/05 at Colorado and was then returned to Medicine Hat (WHL) for his final junior season. Barker started the 2006-07 season with Norfolk (AHL), making his AHL debut on 11/3/06 at Portland; he tallied his first pro point on 11/21/06 with an assist vs. Manchester and scored his first pro goal on 11/29/06 at Bridgeport. He was called up on 1/14/07 and played in his second career NHL game, scoring a five-on-three power play goal against Minnesota goalie Manny Fernandez to record his first NHL goal. He was selected to the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic as a member of the Rockford IceHogs, but did not attend due to being recalled to Chicago. Barker was traded by the Blackhawks to Minnesota on 2/12/10 in exchange for Kim Johnsson (D) and Nick Leddy (D). Played five years of junior hockey for Medicine Hat (WHL), where he was named to the 2003 WHL All-Rookie Team and won the 2004 President’s Cup (WHL Championship); during his last three seasons with the Tigers Texas bench boss Willie Desjardins was his head coach. He won back-to-back gold medals with Team Canada at the 2005 & 2006 IIHF World Junior Championships.