What Kind of Contract Does Barabanov Want?

SEATTLE — Check out my “Sharks Pregame Live” hit from tonight!

.@Sheng_Peng further explains Barabanov's contract requests from the Sharks pic.twitter.com/K4hyTB4HGf

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 21, 2022

Sheng Peng: Speaking of good offensive company, Alexander Barabanov is returning to the line-up tonight versus the Kraken after missin three games because he was in COVID protocol.

San Jose Hockey Now reported a week ago that the San Jose Sharks had not opened any contract negotiations with Alexander Barabanov, who’s going to an unrestricted free agent after this season.

We’re hearing that Barabanov is hoping eventually for a Robby Fabbri-like contract. Impending UFA Fabbri signed a three-year, $12 million dollar extension last month with Detroit.

Right now, it’s a little bit early for Alexander Barabanov to be looking for that kind of money. He’s played just 41 games with the Sharks, and most of his career before this has been in the KHL.

But the 27-year-old has also been very productive with the Sharks: He’s got 27 points in those 41 games.

At this rate, a Fabbri-like deal shouldn’t be out of the question. When Fabbri signed last month, he had accumulated 63 points in 110 games with the Red Wings.

If Alexander Barabanov keeps this up, he’s going to be ahead of Fabbri’s pace by the end of the year.