The Pittsburgh Penguins should set their sights on this St. Louis Blues forward.
The Pittsburgh Penguins don't appear to be major players in this year's trade deadline. Instead, the Penguins are focused on addressing the bottom six needs and increasing cohesion amongst those two lines.
General manager Ron Hextall recently discussed the state of the team and his plans for the deadline. He made it clear that he didn't think the team needed huge moves.
"When I look at our team on paper, I like our team," Hextall stated in his press conference.
Hextall referred to the lack of chemistry on the third and fourth lines several times, and made it clear his priority is to address that issue before the deadline. He also made it clear that he was not interested in dealing his first round draft pick for any deal this season.
But who provides that necessary spark for the price tag Hextall is willing to pay? There is one player that stands out: Ivan Barbashev of the St. Louis Blues.
If you're unfamiliar with Barbashev, he is a second round pick of the Blues in 2014 and won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019. He plays wing mostly, but has the ability to play the center position and is the exact type of player Hextall is looking for.
Barbashev is known for his physical, two-way game. He broke onto the roster in St. Louis playing in a fourth line role and fine-tuning his penalty killing skills. As he has progressed and improved, the physical element has stayed with him. He's unafraid to use the body, as he's coming off of a 160 hit season last year. Through just over 50 games this season, he's already surpassed the 100-hit threshold.
Take a look at this hit he laid on rookie Shane Wright earlier this season for a glimpse into his toughness and physicality.
While the gritty play may stick out the most when it comes to Ivan Barbashev, his offensive game shouldn't be overlooked either. This season, he has nine goals and 24 points in 51 games. It's not record breaking, but those numbers would pace the Penguins' bottom six offensively. He also has the potential for more, as he scored a career high 26 goals last year.
Watch this goal Barbashev scored against the Colorado Avalanche to see just how talented he is.
Barbashev uses his defensive skills to force a turnover, out-skates the Colorado defender, and then buries a wicked wrist shot past the Avalanche netminder.
There is no downside to this option, either. Barbashev will have a lower price tag than the big-name options at the deadline. Combine that with his down offensive season compared to last year, and a second or third round pick plus a prospect makes sense to get the deal done. And if he isn't a fit, the Penguins can cut ties quickly, as Barbashev is in the final year of a contract with a $2.25 million cap hit.
Looking at the entire package, it's clear Barbashev has much to offer the Pittsburgh Penguins. And if the price is right, GM Hextall owes it to his team to bring in a hard-working, offensively gifted player like Barbashev. He'd be a huge boost to the bottom six and team as a whole in their fight for a playoff spot and Stanley Cup run.
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