Former Sharks & Maple Leafs Forward Barabanov Bids NHL Farewell

It was a rough season this past year for Alexander Barabanov. He struggled to just four goals and 13 points in 46 games for the San Jose Sharks, and as an unrestricted free agent, likely wasn't getting any significant offers in the NHL.

He has now decided to return home, signing in the KHL.

After 4 seasons in the NHL (107 PTS in 206 GP), 30-year-old forward Alexander Barabanov returns home. pic.twitter.com/QoTqkMy9m2
— KHL (@khl_eng) August 1, 2024

It's a two-year deal with AK Bars Kazan for the native of St Petersburg.

Barabanov's disappointing season came a year after his best campaign in North America, when he posted 15 goals and 47 points in 68 games with the Sharks in 2022-23. But he wasn't able to follow up on that success this past season, and he saw his time on ice whittled down from 18 minutes a game to just 15:52.

Overall, in four NHL seasons, he recorded 32 goals and 107 points in 206 games.

Before he signed in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020, the now-30-year-old had played six KHL seasons with his hometown St. Petersburg SKA in Russia, and won two championships there.