SAN JOSE — Pending unrestricted free agent Alexander Barabanov said Friday he would like to remain with the San Jose Sharks past this season and gain some long-term security in the process.
Barabanov is entering the second year of the two-year, $5 million contract he signed with the Sharks after the 2021-2022 season. He said he doesn’t want to dwell on what his next contract might look like, but he would like a change from the short-term deals he’s been on since he came to North America in 2000 as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I try to not think too much about this. Just try to work hard and do my job. That’s it,” Barabanov said Friday. “Because if you think too much, it doesn’t help you.
“Of course, I want to stay here. My two babies were born here and I like the group here. That’s it. But it’s a business, so we’ll what happens.”
General manager Mike Grier said Thursday he’s open to re-signing some of his pending UFAs such as Barabanov, 29, and Anthony Duclair, 28, instead of trading them for future assets, as the rebuilding Sharks try to surround their younger players with veterans who can set a good example.
The Sharks have nine players on expiring contracts, and Grier said he’ll see how this season goes before he decides whether it makes sense to sign forwards in their late twenties like Barabanov and Duclair to multi-year deals.
Acquiring Barabanov has been one of the Sharks’ shrewdest moves over the last few seasons. Since he was acquired from the Leafs for forward Antti Suomela on April 12, 2021, Barabnov has played almost exclusively in a top-six role and has 28 goals and 93 points in 147 games.
Last season, while playing primarily on a line with Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier for the first four months of the season, Barabanov recorded career-highs in goals (15), assists (32), and average time on ice (18:03).
Suomela, who played parts of three seasons with the Sharks after he was signed by the team in June 2018, is presently playing for Lausanne in the Swiss League.
The Sharks are not expected to contend for a playoff spot and considering his modest cap hit ($2.5 million) and productivity, Barabanov could be a valuable trade chip for the organization as other teams look to stock up for the postseason prior to the NHL’s March 8 trade deadline.
For now, though, Sharks coach David Quinn feels Barabanov’s game can get to another level, primarily as a goal scorer after being mainly a facilitator over the last two-plus seasons.
“I think this guy is just scratching the surface,” Quinn said of Barabanov. “He’s a really smart player, he’s competitive. I think he spent a lot of time improving his shot. He looks a little bit quicker right now. So I think there’s another level for him to get to but I liked his game last year.”
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