Report: Alexander Barabanov linked to the Leafs

[herman]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/31-thoughts-fast-hockey-big-personalities-define-start-nhl-season/

6. A name to learn: Alexander Barabanov. The Russian left-shot winger will be 26 in June, and word is a few NHL executives will be going to see him in person. His 46 points in 58 games for St. Petersburg were 18th in the KHL last season. He's at three points in the first 12 games this year, but his ice time is down from 15:26 to 13:19. There's always a concern that when a player in Barabanov's situation sees that drop, it's because the organization feels it will lose him.

"We're already looking for Toronto's 'Russian Whisperer,'" one of my overseas contacts joked. That's Senior Director of Player Evaluation Jim Paliafito.

Quick scouting report:
https://twitter.com/sammyt_51/status/1181667030451326976

[CarltonTheBear]

Saying Friedman "linked" the Leafs to this player is a bit of a stretch. But he would certainly fit the mould of guys the Leafs like.

[herman]

Saying Friedman "linked" the Leafs to this player is a bit of a stretch. But he would certainly fit the mould of guys the Leafs like.

It's a lot of stretch based on Friedman's wording.
CJ followed up on the Leafs Hour confirming that the Leafs are at the top of his list.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/1183076636423544833

[CarltonTheBear]

Damien Cox: Dubas flees the country after embarrassing loss to the Lightning

[Bender]

Damien Cox: Dubas flees the country after embarrassing loss to the Lightning

[Highlander]

Damien Cox: Dubas flees the country after embarrassing loss to the Lightning

Hey Dubas, bring back some Russian razorblades for Cox's noggin.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/1183076636423544833

https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/1183764168920436737

Grigorenko could be interesting. He always seemed like he had the tools to be a good player, just never put it together in the NHL.

[herman]

Grigorenko could be interesting. He always seemed like he had the tools to be a good player, just never put it together in the NHL.

He did debut for the Sabres and then the Avs during their darkest timelines.

Here's some scouting report compilations
https://milehighsticking.com/2016/07/31/colorado-avalanche-talented-mikhail-grigorenko/
https://dobberprospects.com/mikhail-grigorenko/
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2018/12/several-khl-stars-eyeing-return-to-nhl.html

[herman]

https://twitter.com/igoreronko/status/1243924517728260096
https://twitter.com/igoreronko/status/1243935363372068864
https://twitter.com/kpapetti/status/1243929174622044161

[herman]

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1245018874657062912

[L K]

His season last year kind of looks like an aberration.

5 full seasons in the KHL.
17, 25, 22, 46, and then 20 points.

[bustaheims]

His season last year kind of looks like an aberration.

5 full seasons in the KHL.
17, 25, 22, 46, and then 20 points.

Part of that is the depth of the rosters of St. Petersburg SKA. Before last season, they were a pretty stacked roster - they had roster that featured Kovalchuk, Dadonov, Gusev, Datsyuk, Shipachyov (who, even though he was a failed experiment in the NHL, absolutely dominates the KHL), etc. Last season, they lost a couple notable members of the team, which gave Barabanov a larger role. This season, they basically lost the rest of the high end talent they had, and looks like they became a much more defensively focused team.

[Frank E]

Dubas probably gives him $2m per, like Holl.

No, I can't get over it.

[Bates]

Dubas probably gives him $2m per, like Holl.

No, I can't get over it.

I bet he gets signed for an entry level one year deal.