Ivan Barbashev Re-Signs With Vegas
Ivan Barbashev is back. The Vegas Golden Knights had to make a difficult decision to trade Reilly Smith and now we know why. The team has announced that they are re-signing Barbashev to a 5 year contract that will carry a $5 million AAV. This deal for Barbashev will interestingly enough take him up to the age that Smith is right now. It seems pretty clear they chose Barbashev over Smith.
Come on Barbie let’s go party… for five more years!
— – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 28, 2023
We have signed Ivan Barbashev to a five-year contract extension! #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/clv8sLjHOa
There is no question that Barbashev earned himself quite a bit of money during the most recent Stanley Cup run. Barbashev, 27, was acquired by Vegas from St. Louis during the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. It proved to be the move of the deadline and I’m not sure Vegas wins the Cup without him. The Moscow native posted 18 points in 23 playoff games including a +14 rating.
Trading Reilly Smith stings but if Vegas had to pick, this was probably the right call. Barbashev is five years younger and brings more physicality to the table. This hit on Radko Gudas is just something Smith can’t do. It feels like Barbashev has more untapped offensive upside as well. Barbashev had really strong chemistry on the top line with Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault and it’s just not something Vegas could afford to part with.
It sounds like Adin Hill is also set to return. The task now will be finding a third line right winger to replace Smith. Oh, and the team needs to figure out what’s going on with Robin Lehner.
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