2 Teams Linked to Ivan Barbashev as Trade Candidate

Ivan Barbashev has become a trade candidate.

The Vegas Golden Knights will be one of the top pursuers of No. 1 unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner (and/or others) come July 1st. But to do that, they'll need to do something about their measly $9 million in projected cap space. Bodies will need to be shipped out, and as we noted recently, there are a few trade candidates that could be sacrificed.

Ivan Barbashev is one name that's making the rounds. Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet calls him "one of their most movable pieces." The Russian forward has three years to run with a $5 million cap hit, a reasonable price to pay for a 23-goal scorer. Barbashev totaled 51 points in 70 games with an excellent career-high plus/minus rating of +26.

Barbashev struggled in the playoffs, could be moved by Vegas this summer

However, his performance in the playoffs this season, just two points in 11 games and a minus-9 rating, might make the Knights more inclined to move on from him.

The two-way forward can play all three spots, and up and down the lineup. He'd be a nice add for a number of teams.

Kypreos links two in particular as clubs that should be interested in an offensive boost like Barbashev:

Ottawa Senators
Carolina Hurricanes

The Senators are known to be in the market for another top-six winger, a role which Barbashev could be adept at filling. The Hurricanes are certainly in need of a hike on offense. They scored just 10 goals in their five-game Conference Finals defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers. But the Canes have probably got their sights set a little higher this summer, looking for a more elite scoring option, and a solid second-line center.

Barbashev has 290 points in 585 career NHL games, with 1,009 hits and a +54 rating, and is a two-time Stanley Cup winner. He spent the first 6 1/2 years of his career with the St. Louis Blues after they made him a second-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.