The St. Louis Blues have had a disappointing year and unless they string together a long winning streak in the next few weeks, they will be sellers at the NHL trade deadline.
Players like Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko will be traded but one other player that is attracting attention from other teams is Ivan Barbashev.
Toronto Maple Leafs interested in an Ivan Barbashev trade?
NHL Analyst Mike Johnson was on the NHL Network and discussing the Toronto Maple Leafs. Johnson feels the Leafs need another top-six forward and they should target Blues forward Ivan Barbashev.
Johnson went on to say in his TV hit that Barbashev is a strong physical player that can score, hit, and has a salary cap hit that the Leafs will be able to take on ($2.5 million dollars).
Barbashev, 27, is set to be a unrestricted free agent this summer and would be a rental player for the Leafs.
What are Leaf fans saying about a Ivan Barbashev trade?
Barbashev would look good in a Leafs jersey. $800k salary cap hit for the rest of season. 27, plays center or wing, plays heavy, heavy forecheck, heavy shot, won a Stanley Cup. If he doesn’t cost too much Kyle Dubas pull the trigger.
Leafs do it!
TOR receives: Ivan Barbashev (1x 2.3M, UFA)
STL receives: 2023 3rd Round Pick (TOR) & Mikko Kokkonen
I’ve been screaming for Ivan Barbashev to become a Leaf for a couple weeks now.
