By Jeremy Rutherford, Jesse Granger and Eric Duhatschek
The St. Louis Blues have sold forward Ivan Barbashev to the Golden Knights, Vegas announced Sunday. Forward Zach Dean is heading to St. Louis as part of the deal. Here’s what you need to know:
- Barbashev, 27, has 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 59 games this season.
- He played his entire seven-year career with the Blues after being selected in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft.
- Vegas is 35-18-6 this season and ranks first in the Pacific Division.
scouting report
After Tarasenko was sent to Rangers, Barbashev became the second most important trade target among blues forwards, behind Ryan O’Reilly. Barbashev isn’t nearly as successful in a career year as he was a year ago (60 points in 81 games), but he’s a reliable two-way player with championship experience.
In short, he’s this year’s Calle Jarnkrok, someone who will be transferred at deadline to a team looking to add to their third line. – Duhatschek
What brings Barbashev to Vegas
It seems the Golden Knights have needed another top 9 forward all season and Barbashev offers them a great option. Bruce Cassidy has been spreading the lineup deeper of late and the results have been good, but adding another solid winter to the mix should only help.
Barbashev can play all three forward positions, which helps, and has the ability to play on any of Vegas’ top three lines. Whether playing with Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault or William Karlsson and Reilly Smith, Barbashev has the potential to improve in both. That in turn would strengthen the bottom six as well, pushing down either Michael Amadio or Paul Cotter.
Barbashev has fallen a little down on earth this year with just 10 goals and 19 assists, but he’s just a year away from a massive 2021-22 season in which he recorded 26 goals and 34 assists. Perhaps playing with some of Vegas’ best forwards can rekindle some of that offensive touch. – Grange
GO DEEPER
NHL Trade Notes: Golden Knights talk depth with Barbashev, Blues get solid prospects
Why did the Blues trade Barbashev?
The Blues are in the midst of a complete retool and have already moved Tarasenko, O’Reilly, Noel Acciari and Niko Mikkola. It was only a matter of time before it was Barbashev’s turn to say goodbye to St. Louis.
The 27-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and after scoring 26 goals and 60 points last season, he’s up for a $2.25 million pay rise. The Blues were likely unwilling to foot the bill, so proceeded with the team fire sale that lasted until the March 3 close. — Rutherford
How will he be remembered in St. Louis?
The Russia forward will always be a fan favorite in St. Louis. In 2013, the Blues sent David Perron to Edmonton and received a second-round pick in the return package. They applied it to Barbashev in 2014 and he’s been a valuable player since his arrival a few years later.
In 2019, Barbashev, Oskar Sundqvist and Alexander Steen’s fourth line was a big reason the Blues won the Stanley Cup. In all, he played 410 regular-season games for the organization and there will be big applause when he returns. — Rutherford
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(Photo: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)