Baby Barbashev due during Stanley Cup Playoffs

Sometime in August - not long after the start of the round-robin games and the Stanley Cup Playoffs - Ivan Barbashev is expecting to become a dad.

But despite the big milestone moment, Barbashev said it never crossed his mind to opt out of playing when hockey resumes from two hub cities on August 1.

"We didn't even talk about it, (whether) to opt out or not," Barbashev said. "It was actually really simple. I'm still 24, I have a full career ahead of me. After winning last year, I want to do it all over again. That feeling has been stuck in me for a long time and you just get even more hungry after winning."

While games are being played, Barbashev will have to remain isolated with teammates in a secure area of Edmonton, limited only to the hotel, practice rink, Rogers Place on game days and a select few restaurants that will be available to players but not open to the public. There is, however, a set of circumstances in which a player can leave the secure zone in case of illness or major life events, including the birth of a child.

To return, Barbashev will be quarantined and required to pass a series of COVID-19 tests.

"I'm not sure what the plan is (when the baby arrives), but I guess I will go back to St. Louis," Barbashev said. "We talked about it for a little bit… I understand it's really hard for her (with) me going away when the baby is due, but I promised her I'll be back."