After not being traded by the sharks, a talented forward leaves for the KHL
Alexander Barabanov has decided to leave the NHL and sign a two-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL, according to his agent, Yuri Nikolaev.
Barabanov, 30, had received interest from multiple KHL teams and ultimately chose to return home to Russia, where he was born and played the first seven seasons of his pro career.
Despite generating significant interest at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline from teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, the San Jose Sharks kept Barabanov. Following this decision, he expressed his desire to be traded but was not moved.
Barabanov began his NHL journey in the 2020-21 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, appearing in 13 games before being traded to the Sharks. Over four seasons with San Jose, he scored 106 points. His return to the KHL marks a continuation of a trend where Russian-born NHL players eventually head back to the KHL after stints in North America.
Source: House of Hockey
Talented forward leaves the NHL after the Sharks don't respect his trade request
| POLL | ||
Do you think Alexander Barabanov's departure from the NHL will create a rift in the San Jose Sharks' lineup? | ||
| Yes | 14 | 43.8 % |
| No | 18 | 56.3 % |
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