What Will Barabanov’s Next Contract Look Like?

“If I do get asked, he’s one guy that I think should be a Shark.”

That’s what San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture volunteered about pending UFA Alexander Barabanov after San Jose’s 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Barabanov earned an assist in his first game back since he suffered an upper-body injury on Apr. 14.

“If I had my choice, yes,” San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said about keeping Barabanov. “He’s a guy that provides offense. This is a team that can use that now.”

The 27-year-old has 10 goals and 28 assists in 66 games. Those 38 points are good for fifth on the Sharks. San Jose, by the way, is 30th in the league in goals.

The challenge with re-signing Barabanov? There aren’t a lot of past recent signings to compare him to.

The Russian winger is a pending UFA without a long-term track record of NHL scoring – so basically, what’s fair value for the San Jose Sharks to pay an unproven late-bloomer like Barabanov?

Read This Article At NBC Sports Bay Area