Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev, alongside defenseman Nicolas Hague, found his name on Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos' Offseason Trade Board.
The Golden Knights acquired Barbashev in the 2022-23 season at the trade deadline from the St. Louis Blues. His addition proved to be a vital one, helping the Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup. His price was high, but his seven goals and 18 points in 22 playoff games were worth every penny.
In the ensuing offseason, the Golden Knights and Barbashev agreed to a five-year, $25M contract extension. Fast forward to 2025, Barbashev is two years into his contract and could be on the move. General manager Kelly McCrimmon won't be eager to move the 29-year-old, but if the Golden Knights are serious about their pursuit of top pending free agent Mitch Marner, the Golden Knights will need to create some cap space. Moving Barbashev would do so, and he'd likely help the Golden Knights get a large return.
REPORT: Golden Knights Emerging As A Landing Spot For Top Free Agent Mitch MarnerAccording to multiple reports, the Vegas Golden Knights are emerging as a very realistic landing spot for top free agent Mitch Marner.
"Losing in Round 2 to Edmonton this season after failing to get out of Round 1 in 2024 has the Golden Knights thinking of ways they can come back better. We know this is a team that can get very active on the trade market. They want to create cap space and perhaps chase some of the bigger free agents this summer, such as Mitch Marner.
So, Ivan Barbashev is considered one of their most movable pieces, a 23-goal, 51-point scorer this season who’s making $5 million against the salary cap for another three years. The 29-year-old would be an interesting target for teams that are looking to bolster their offence, such as Ottawa or Carolina. Barbashev does have an eight-team no-trade list," said Kypreos.
The Russian winger has become incredibly valuable to the Golden Knights. He is an efficient goal scorer with a 6'0, 203 lbs frame, which allows him to play physically. He's trusted in his own end and can play in every scenario. His versatility is something HC Bruce Cassidy appreciates and exploits, moving him up and down the lineup when needed.
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Golden Knights Reportedly Entertaining Calls On Nicolas HagueThe Vegas Golden Knights are pressed against the salary cap heading into the offseason and will likely need to make moves to remain under and improve their team. According to a report by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Golden Knights could do so by trading Nicolas Hague and are entertaining calls and engaging in trade discussions.
Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague Garnering Interest From FlyersIn order to free up cap space and shake up the roster, the most talked about option has been trading pending restricted free agent Nicolas Hague, and recently, trusted insider Elliotte Friedman shared a team that has shown plenty of interest in trading for Hague.