NHL rumors: Alexander Barabanov will decide between Maple Leafs and Coyotes

According to the latest NHL rumors, KHL forward Alexander Barabanov will sign with either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Arizona Coyotes.

Even with the NHL season at a hiatus, there’s still quite a bit of hockey news. Teams are starting to sign college hockey free agents, as well as their own prospects. There are also several overseas players who are looking to take the next step in their careers by joining the NHL. The biggest name is Alexander Barabanov. According to the latest NHL rumors, he should make his decision soon.

In a recent interview with Sportsnet 590, Dan Milstein, Barabanov’s agent, confirmed that his client has narrowed his choices down to two teams – the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Arizona Coyotes.

Igor Eronko of Sports-Express reported back in March that the Leafs are expected to sign him. However, the Coyotes have made quite the impression on Barabanov, so they’re still very much in the running to sign the KHL forward.

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Barabanov had his best KHL season during the 2018-19 campaign, as he set career highs in goals (17), assists (29), and points (46) with SKA St. Petersburg. In the postseason, he put up six points n 13 games. He also helped OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia) win the gold medal in men’s hockey, as he put up a goal and an assist in six games during the tournament.

However, Barabanov didn’t build on his career campaign, as his production fell to 11 goals, 9 assists, and 20 points in 46 games this season. Still, he’s a proven productive player in what is arguably the second-best professional hockey league in the world, so it’s not surprising teams are interested in him.

Barabanov will only be eligible to sign a one-year entry-level contract. Like many overseas free agents, he will probably sign for either the league minimum or something very close to it. So once he chooses a team, negotiations should take no time at all.

Why The Toronto Maple Leafs Make The Most Sense

Given the Maple Leafs history with Russian forwards, it’s not surprising they’re one of the two finalists to sign Barabanov. Just last season, they signed Ilya Mikheyev (who is also represented by Milstein).

The Leafs have also signed overseas players such as Par Lindholm, Igor Ozhiganov, Teemu Kivihalme, and Nikita Zaitsev in recent years. Ozhiganov played with Barabanov with SKA St. Petersburg, which might help them get an upper hand in negotiations.

Also, Toronto could give Barabanov the opportunity to play with skilled forwards. Mikheyev came in last season, worked hard, and earned a consistent spot in the lineup. He even got some playing time with John Tavares before his season was cut unfortunately short after he suffered a serious hand injury. That could be a blueprint for Barabanov.

Though the Coyotes could probably offer Barabanov more playing time, he wouldn’t be playing with as many skilled players as he likely would in Toronto. Also, Milstein has a good relationship with the Leafs. The Leafs have a reputation for treating overseas free agents well and aren’t shy to give them chances.

Ultimately, I think that’s why Barabanov will choose the Leafs. Milstein is a smart man and he’ll likely nudge his client in the direction of the Maple Leafs. He’s worked with them before and he knows his client will be in good hands in Toronto. I wouldn’t rule the Coyotes out, but I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t sign with the Maple Leafs.