Barnes was drafted in the second round, fifty-fifth overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. Barnes played his junior career for three teams in the OHL; the Sudbury Wolves, the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and finally the Barrie Colts. On October 3, 1999, he was suspended from the OHL for 25 games for a stick-swinging incident in a game against Oshawa Generals. At the end of that season, he played with the Barrie Colts in the Memorial Cup Championship final.
He has played two career games in the National Hockey League, as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
After retiring as a player Barnes worked as a coach, starting in the 2007–08 season with the Port Colborne Sailors of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Barnes was hired to work as an assistant coach with the Peterborough Petes for the 2008–09 season.

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