You need more than a 3rd liner to fix this mess.

MAKE YOUR TEAM IN THE 20/21 SEASON TO SHOW CAP AND DEPTH PUZZLE.
I THINK YOU MEANT PUZZLED, JUST SHORT A BIG D.

I really hope Dubas signs him. He will be a third line centre for us

Barabanov is an elite World Class hockey player that is much more talented than you are giving him credit. There is a reason that over 20 NHL teams have been pursuing him over the last year.

20 points in 43 KHL games doesn’t scream “world class talent”

The guy has 20 points in the KHL this season. Probably should settle down on that.

This team needs so much more than that

And even if this team leads the league next year in goals, it won't help them much if they also allow the most goals. This team keeps adding forward depth and offensive defenseman. This team will NEVER contend until they get another true defensive defenseman

he'll be nothing better than a third line winger. Won't be as good as Mikheyev

no the final piece to the puzzle get a KHL goalie. Think about it if the leafs bring in a KHL goalie and sign him to a 2 year entry and he does well his first year why not take the chance. If the leafs get lucky he could be another shesterkin, Samsonov, etc. The main thing is he would cost less and the leafs could use the extra cap to bolster the defense around him giving him a better chance. Alexei Krasikov is the prime candidate to come over. He is a UFA and has pretty good numbers (sv 0.935 GAA 2.01). Some time with the marlies and the main roster can help determine whether he is NHL ready. Cause if the leafs can sign him and he plays well it beats resigning Anderson to 7-8 million

You are going to be surprised when you actually see him play in the NHL and understand why 20 NHL teams were scouting him and you sound jealous that the Oilers missed the boat on him.

Warrior
Adding forward depth allows the Leafs to make a trade of another forward to upgrade their defense.

Do you realize who he played on a line with in the last Winter Olympics for Russia?

Yes. That's fair, but then the final piece would be that trade, not this signing.

You might be right. I think Leafs are also looking hard at Timur Bilyalov as a KHL UFA potential goalie signing.

An olympics without NHL’ers two years ago. He’s irrelevant. Won’t make an impact at the NHL level. If this guy is your “hope” leafs are in BIG BIG trouble

Bilyalov is to small and according to Igor Eronko him going to the leafs or other NHL teams would not work. His style is kind of a battlefly. You need a very good defensive team in front ot, which Ak Bars is, so he could be effective. He's great stopping the first shot, not the second one

I really also think Barabanov could also play on either of the top 2 lines as he has that much talent.

He's the final piece of the puzzle and you're not going to sign him for the maximum ELC?!?!? You're going to stiff him out of $75,000 and not give him a multi-year contract to boot? Boy, you must have a lot of confidence in him.

You need to ask yourself why over 20 NHL teams were looking at signing this player before you call him irrelevant. Barabanov will by dynamite playing with skilled players like Taveres, Matthews, Marner and Nylander. I anticipate that the Leafs may be signing him in the next 48 hours and more information will come available to grasp the significance of this player.

Alot of hockey people said the same thing about Craig Billington and he proved them all wrong. If you can play, you can play and this guy can play.

Do not worry, Dubas is working on your concern as you speak as the Leafs window is now starting and they may be only a couple of players away.

that's what we all said last year, and look where they ended up.

Yes, I’m very jealous of a statistically mediocre Russian free agent. If this guy is this hyped up then Anton Slepyshev must be the second coming of Ovechkin! Look I think Barbanov might be a decent 3rd liner but he ain’t gonna be the next Panarin or a game changer. It’s a signing purely so that the Leafs can shed some salary cap offensively.

he can play but his style of play makes it were u need a strong defense in front. His rebound control is what makes him not suitable for the leafs. The akbars defense is equivalent to Boston's strong, big and efficient. That is what allows Bilyov to suceed. Put him with the leafs and their defensive style and i see him struggling. Alexei Krasikov on the other hand plays a very similar style to anderson which makes him perfect for the leafs. Ivan Bocharov would be the 2nd best choice but he is still under contract till 2021 making it harder for him to replace freddie as dubas wont know his nhl capabilities.