Makar: Barrie said 'it's an easy league' to ease nerves before 1st NHL game

It's understandable to be anxious before making your NHL debut, but doing so in the postseason meant nerves were flying high for Colorado Avalanche phenom Cale Makar.

Luckily for Makar, he had the steadying veteran presence of Tyson Barrie to help ease those nerves. When asked for his "welcome to the NHL moment" during a video conference call Monday, Makar recounted Barrie's advice.

"I think the first moment that kind of comes to mind is I was getting ready just for warmups (before Game 3 in Colorado's first-round series against the Calgary Flames). Obviously, you're pretty nervous, you don't know what to expect," Makar recalled. "And then we're lined up in the hallway, and I think Tyson Barrie just comes up to me and just pats me on the shoulder and goes, 'It's an easy league, kid.'"

Makar made it look easy, scoring a goal in Colorado's 6-2 win over the Flames. He went on to play 10 postseason games during the 2019 playoffs, racking up six points.

Ironically, Makar's emergence as a right-handed, offensive defenseman made Barrie expendable. Barrie was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer along with Alexander Kerfoot and a sixth-round pick in exchange for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen, and a third-rounder.