NHL Rumors: Blues Forward Linked To 3 Contenders

Though the St. Louis Blues aren't out of the playoff race, too much has gone wrong and they are too inconsistent to make a splash this season. Two of their top players are out for at least a month and they have had a couple of stretches where the team has played very poorly. They sit just three points back, but would have to pass some solid teams.

The expectation is that the Blues are going to sell, and a player at the top of their list to move is Ivan Barbashev. Nobody on the team except for Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have had seasons as good as 2021-22. Barbashev's numbers have decreased, but he still has a lot of value for the style of game he plays and his low cap hit.

The 27-year-old has just six goals and 18 points in 39 games after scoring 26 goals and 60 points last season. With injuries and the team having lost David Perron this past offseason, Barbashev is playing top-six minutes. He is a UFA at the end of the season and has a low cap hit of $2.25 million.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said that the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Tampa Bay Lightning have all been linked to Barbashev. The Maple Leafs are looking for a second line winger so that they can move Calle Jarnkrok down to the third. The Oilers are looking for a physical player who can score. Add Barbashev to what the Oilers already have with Evander Kane and Klim Kostin, and they will be much harder to play against. The Lightning are always looking for that underrated deadline acquisition to help them push deep into the playoffs.

More teams than just these three will show interest in Barbashev because he is a former Stanley Cup champion, has a low cap hit, and plays physically. It will be interesting to see where he ends up this season.