 He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft and then played two seasons (1980–1982) with the Wichita Wind of the Central Hockey League before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1982.Barnes played one season with the Kings AHL affiliate team, the New Haven Nighthawks and he scored 29 goals while recording 34 assists for 63 points in 72 games during the 1982-1983 season before being called up by the Kings, where he played his only National Hockey League game.He finished his hockey career with the AHL's Nova Scotia Voyageurs scoring 31 goals and adding 32 assists for 63 points in 80 games played.