Alexander Barabanov played four seasons in the NHL // Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Forward Alexander Barabanov returned to the KHL this summer and signed a contract with Ak Bars Kazan after four seasons in the NHL, where he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks. Barabanov never got to play in the playoffs or compete for the Stanley Cup, but he remembers his North American experience with great respect and joy.
"It was a cool experience," Barabanov said in an exclusive interview with RG. "Of course, there was a feeling of incompleteness because I really wanted to play in the playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. But overall, I enjoyed it. They let me play a lot, especially in San Jose."
Barabanov arrived in the NHL in 2020 and played 13 games for the Maple Leafs before being traded to the Sharks.
"It's tough to break into the Toronto roster," Barabanov said. "Many factors have to come together. During negotiations, they can tell you that you're going to play one position, and then, like in my case, it turns out not to be the case. I played five minutes in the first game, and in the second, four minutes. After that, I called [agent] Dan [Milstein] and asked what I was doing wrong. But the team had a great scout, Jim [Roque], who communicated with me helpfully and told me that I needed to play at least 20 games to understand what kind of league this was. But then they traded me to San Jose, where I played 18 minutes a game. And I realized that you can easily play that much time."
Barabanov had options to stay in the NHL but was not satisfied with the offers. In the 2023-24 season, he played 46 games, scoring 13 points (four goals, nine assists). In 206 games in the NHL, the forward scored 107 points (32 goals, 75 assists).
"The last year was difficult because of injuries," said 30-year-old Barabanov. "And in the NHL, everyone judges by your last year of contract. I've been offered to play in the fourth line, but I want to avoid repeating the same mistake. I went through this in Toronto, and I understand what it is. So there was no point in it. It's better to play in the KHL.
I've probably already closed the door to the NHL for myself. I don't see the point in going there and sitting on the bench or playing in the AHL. It's a shame because my style of play fits the NHL. But the speeds there are getting higher every year, and you're not getting any younger."
From a hockey point of view, two seasons with the Sharks, who are going through a rebuilding process, were painful for Barabanov despite a lot of playing time.
Barabanov was also happy with his life in California. But not with the prices that had to be paid for it:
"I enjoyed California. I stayed there for the summer last year because my wife was about to give birth. And we decided to go on a road trip around California. It's a very cool and diverse state. Two hours, and you're in Napa Valley. There's everything nearby: the ocean, the desert, the Sequoia National Park. But you have to pay high taxes for it. Prices are generally high. Last year, I rented a house for $10,000. This is what I'm not going to miss".
Sergey Demidov
