Alexander Barabanov signs two-year deal with KHL’s AK Bars Kazan

Shane Seney
Shane Seney
Alexander Barabanov signs two-year deal with KHL’s AK Bars Kazan
Credit: © Stan Szeto

Alexander Barabanov is leaving the NHL and heading back home to Russia. The native of St Petersburg has signed a two-year contract with the KHL’s AK Bars Kazan.

Barabanov was an unrestricted free agent this offseason after appearing in 46 games for the San Jose Sharks last season, recording four goals and 13 points. It was a down year for the pesky forward who posted a career-high 47 points in 2022-23. Barabanov saw his ice-time decrease significantly in San Jose last season, after averaging a career high 18:03 two seasons ago.

Barabanov hit the open market this summer after his latest two-year contract at $2.5 million average annual value expired. It became quite obvious early on during the offseason that the Sharks were heading in another direction and after some consideration on returning to the NHL, Barabanov heads back home to Russia.

The 30-year-old forward was originally signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2020 and appeared in just 13 games for the Maple Leafs during the 2020-21 season. He recorded one assist and averaged 8:37 of ice-time. Toronto eventually traded Barabanov to the Sharks in exchange for forward Antti Suomela. Suomela never cracked the Maple Leafs lineup and spent parts of two seasons playing in the American Hockey League before heading overseas to Sweden.

As for Barabanov, he makes his way to the KHL after parts of five seasons in the NHL. He tallied 32 goals, 75 assists and 52 penalty minutes in 206 career games.

In other KHL news, Egor Afanasyev has signed a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow. Afanasyev, 23, was originally a 2019 second-round pick of the Nashville Predators, 45th overall. He dressed in two games for the Predators in 2023-24, and spent the majority of his season playing for the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals. Afanasyev collected 27 goals and 54 points in 56 games for the Admirals last season.

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