Weekes: Barbashev drawing lots of interest: Expected return is 1st or 2nd + prospect

[Face Of Bear]

He'd look good in the Leafs bottom 6. Wouldn't be opposed to offering a 2nd + B prospect.

 

[MadeUpName]

I am not sure what I like more, the content of Weekes' tweet or that it's Weekes himself saying this ... because it is exactly and precisely what we have been saying and hoping continually about Barbashev's value at this deadline given his contract and Blues' ability to retain/take back salary.

We have been comping him (Copping him?) to Andrew Copp who got two seconds last year, so our hopes have been:

1. One first instead of two seconds
2. A second and a specific prospect we like right now
3. Two seconds

Barbashev is a swiss army knife player who can slot in with a lot of duos up front. He kills penalties and while he's not your first PP option, he has real offensive skills that flow with a PP so you can have him as an option for your second unit. He also plays the exact type of playoff style you want. He is deadline candy. Please give us a first like Kevin says!

Copp had 35 points in 56 games at the time of his trade. Copp was coming off a Playoff run with 14 points in 20 games.
Barbashev has 24 points in 52 games. Barbashev is coming off a Playoff run with 2 assists in 12 games.

Functionally the two play similarly. But Copp was having a better year and has a much better Playoff history.

 

[Spektre]

I expect a trade and sign situation to happen. Barbashev just turned 27 in December and won't come near to breaking the payroll. I think a late 1st will be compensation since the team acquiring him will know they are signing him long term.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Horvat and Tarasenko + Gavrikov, Kane and O’Reilly presumably. That’s a significant number of 1sts for impending UFAs historically speaking (would be 2nd to 2007 post-lockout). The next tier of player ending up in that range would be a surprise. Never say never, though.

 

[Leafs87]

I imagined they’d use their second retention on ROR. Weird

 

[danyhabsfan]

I didn't realize he had 60 pts last season.

 

[Beauterham]

Totally off the table for a rental. I’d expect Blueger to be in the deal, but Pickering is an absolute deal breaker.

I’d expect their offer to be something like Blueger, Belliveau and a 2023 2nd for Barbashev. That’s pretty similar to their trade last year of Aston-Reese, Clang and a 2022 2nd for Rakell. I imagine that could be beat by other teams, but the Penguins aren’t really in a position where I think they’d be willing to spend top assets on rentals.

That's fair. I'd probably say exactly the same.

I don't really know what to make of Belliveau. It seems like another guy with a 5th/6th D ceiling like we already have a lot of. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if he was included though.

I imagined they’d use their second retention on ROR. Weird

And the Blues probably will. We still have two retentions available after using one on Tarasenko. So one for O'Reilly and, if necessary, one on someone else (Barbashev?).

 

[PocketNines]

Copp had 35 points in 56 games at the time of his trade. Copp was coming off a Playoff run with 14 points in 20 games.
Barbashev has 24 points in 52 games. Barbashev is coming off a Playoff run with 2 assists in 12 games.

Functionally the two play similarly. But Copp was having a better year and has a much better Playoff history.

It's a good comp. Copp's career best year was 39 points in 55 games the year prior which is .71ppg and Barbashev last year over a significantly longer season was .74ppg.

Over Copp's last 124 games he has 81 points; over Barbashev's last 133 games he has 84 points. Also Barabshev is the better goal scorer.

Also to anyone scouting the Blues right now they can see that Barbashev is clearly more solution than problem. I'm not going to waste my time convincing you this is true because you're likely not watching the games, but it is true.

 

[rojac]

I imagined they’d use their second retention on ROR. Weird

Teams can retain salary on 3 plays. Blues have only retained on Tarasenko so far.

 

[MadeUpName]

It's a good comp. Copp's career best year was 39 points in 55 games the year prior which is .71ppg and Barbashev last year over a significantly longer season was .74ppg.

Over Copp's last 124 games he has 81 points; over Barbashev's last 133 games he has 84 points. Also Barabshev is the better goal scorer.

Also to anyone scouting the Blues right now they can see that Barbashev is clearly more solution than problem. I'm not going to waste my time convincing you this is true because you're likely not watching the games, but it is true.

I'm not sure pumping up Barbashev's goal scoring ability is a great selling point when he has 3 goals in 50 Playoff games.

I do think St. Louis will get a pair of 2nds or 2nd + prospect from a team like Pittsburgh.

Personally if I'm trading a 1st there are many other players I would choose. Kane, ROR, Larkin, Meier, Henrique, Gavrikov, etc. If I'm betting on last year I'd rather have Bertuzzi.

 

[bossram]

He's one of the guys I want the Leafs to get.

Lol why, this would be like doing a Foligno 2.0 trade.

 

[Darren McCord]

Horvat and Tarasenko + Gavrikov, Kane and O’Reilly presumably. That’s a significant number of 1sts for impending UFAs historically speaking (would be 2nd to 2007 post-lockout). The next tier of player ending up in that range would be a surprise. Never say never, though.

Sure then guys like Meier, Chychrun and possibly Karlsson.

I dont see anyway Barbashev gets a first. He will go for a package not a 1rst.

 

[PocketNines]

I'm not sure pumping up Barbashev's goal scoring ability is a great selling point when he has 3 goals in 50 Playoff games.

I do think St. Louis will get a pair of 2nds or 2nd + prospect from a team like Pittsburgh.

Personally if I'm trading a 1st there are many other players I would choose. Kane, ROR, Larkin, Meier, Henrique, Gavrikov, etc. If I'm betting on last year I'd rather have Bertuzzi.

Nobody is arguing that Barbashev is a great goal scorer; you said it was a bad comp when it's a great comp ...

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

It's a good comp. Copp's career best year was 39 points in 55 games the year prior which is .71ppg and Barbashev last year over a significantly longer season was .74ppg.

Over Copp's last 124 games he has 81 points; over Barbashev's last 133 games he has 84 points. Also Barabshev is the better goal scorer.

Also to anyone scouting the Blues right now they can see that Barbashev is clearly more solution than problem. I'm not going to waste my time convincing you this is true because you're likely not watching the games, but it is true.

Then why has he has one good year and never done anything in the playoffs?

 

[Grasshopperking]

Boston for Zboril + 2

 

[PocketNines]

Then why has he has one good year and never done anything in the playoffs?

Barbashev was a core part of the Berube relentless physical forechecking style that literally took home the Stanley Cup ... we have had Sharks and Bruins fans screaming about how much they hated him. He is precisely the type of player that smart GMs are looking for when they want to add a playoff component to their forward group. He is physical, versatile, experienced Cup champion (actually more valuable than Copp here). There are coaches like Montgomery in Boston and Cassidy in Vegas who know exactly his value ...

 

[TGWL]

No clue where he ends up but plenty of teams will be making offers.
My random guess … Pitt or Vegas …or Flames or Leafs or… lol.

Penguins play Islanders(2) NJD, and Tampa(2). I can see them waiting until deadline day before making a decision because losing those 5 games between now and deadline may change whether they trade real assets away.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Boston for Zboril + 2

I don’t think you have a 2nd. Your first will be late enough and drop Zboril

 

[BayStBullies]

I wish he had played for the Soo at some point in his career.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Lol why, this would be like doing a Foligno 2.0 trade.

Incorrect

 

[BlueOil]

Copp had 35 points in 56 games at the time of his trade. Copp was coming off a Playoff run with 14 points in 20 games.
Barbashev has 24 points in 52 games. Barbashev is coming off a Playoff run with 2 assists in 12 games.

Functionally the two play similarly. But Copp was having a better year and has a much better Playoff history.

you've mixed the timeline up here. at the time of the trade, copp was coming off a playoff run of 2 assists in 8 games with the jets. the 14 in 20 is from his time with the rangers after the trade. copp scoring a few more points prior to his trade deadline is a small difference, but with barbashev's 60 point season last year, i can't imagine it affects the trade value at all.

 

[Captain97]

I think if the leafs can Barbashev + McCabe they could be scary

 

[BlueOil]

Then why has he has one good year and never done anything in the playoffs?

i mean...this described copp before his trade too if you just looked at the stat sheet, so i guess, who cares?

the price has been apparently set for a forechecking 3rd liner who could score if given the chance

 

[Stealth JD]

Blues about to fleece somebody and go into the June draft sitting on some massive capital. I’m all for it. Barbashev is meh, but anyone who wants to buy thinking he’s some 200-ft “complete” player is more than welcome to bid up his price and be disappointed later. Sure he’s flexible. Problem is he’s just not very good.

 

[TK 421]