The Colorado Avalanche may look to add to their forward group this offseason. They have an array of free-agent forwards, including Jonathan Drouin, Yakov Trenin, Brandon Duhaime, Andrew Cogliano, and Joel Kiviranta. It’s currently unclear how many of them will return, so it is possible that they will need to make some additions to their bottom six.
When looking at potential bargain free-agent targets, one player who stands out is Alexander Barabanov. The San Jose Sharks are expected to let the 5-foot-10 winger walk into free agency after a down season.
Barabanov struggled offensively in 2023-24, posting four goals and nine assists in 46 games. While it was a tough year for the 29-year-old, there is reason to believe he can bounce back in 2024-25 with a change of scenery.
Barabanov has shown he can be a very productive forward in the NHL. During the 2021-22 season, he had 10 goals and 39 points in 70 games. He followed that up with 15 goals and 47 points in 68 games during the 2022-23 campaign. With production like that, he can be a very useful middle-six winger.
Barabanov could benefit from playing on a far better Avalanche team. The Sharks were the worst team in the NHL this year and did not offer him much offensive support. The Avalanche, on the other hand, have several notable offensive weapons to work with like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen.
On a cheap one-year deal, it may make sense for the Avalanche to take a flier on Barabanov. It is also important to note that they were one of the teams linked to him at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
