Barbashev decline

Barbashev doesn’t have any leverage in negotiations. It’s smart to sign a one year deal and hope to get a deal like Sundqvist next year or better.

4th Liner declining 1.5M for 1 Year whhhhhhaaaaaaatttt? This gives the opportunity to prove he is worth Sunny money.

Very interesting idea, but doesn't this make the defense a little thin? I'd be particularly concerned about injuries to Bouwmeester and Gunnarsson.

Sundqvist just got 4Y/$2,75M

Barbashev gets at least $1,8M

Or what he skips over to the KHL after finally cementing a spot on an NHL roster?? If he bolts to Russia his spot will be filled very quickly and he’ll have even more competition if he were to return the following season.

He has no leverage. If the Blues are firm at 1.5 there’s no reason for them to budge.

For the record I like Barbashev a lot as a player. I think he has much bigger pay days in his future but this isn’t the year to try and hold out for that pay day

Yeah, by signing away a couple of UFA years. Barby doesn't even get there until 2023.

Oh, and a big no thanks on the trade. Frolik is a nice player, no doubt, but he's 31, makes $5.5M and we have to give up Eddy to get him. Too much trouble for a guy that scores fewer than 20 goals and is heading over hill soon.