"Alexander had a very good first full year in the NHL, showing that he is a consistent point producer and playmaker, said Will. "Paired with his grit and hard work, he has the potential to improve upon his success this past year."
Barabanov, 27, recorded 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) and 14 penalty minutes in 70 games played in 2021-22. He set career highs in nearly all offensive categories, including goals, assists, points, power-play points (8) and scored his first career overtime game-winning goal on Nov. 22, 2021 vs. Carolina Hurricanes. Since the Sharks acquired Barabanov on Apr. 12, 2021, he ranks fifth among Sharks skaters in assists (33) and points (46) in 79 games.
In his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Sharks, Barabanov has skated in 92 games, posting 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists).
Prior to his NHL career, Barabanov played for SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), dating back to the 2013-14 season. In his KHL career, Barabanov recorded 137 points (62 goals, 75 assists) in 262 games. He was named to the KHL All-Star game in 2018-19, and also earned KHL Forward of the Week honors on Feb. 25, 2019. He set a career high in goals, assists and points during the 2018-19 season, scoring 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) for St. Petersburg. He ranked second on the team in points, third in assists, and fifth in goals.
Internationally, Barabanov has represented Russia in the 2014 World Junior Championships, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 World Championships, and 2018 Olympic Games. He helped Russia win Bronze in 2014, 2017 and 2019 and won a Gold Medal in the Olympics. In the 2021 World Championships, he averaged a point-per-game pace, scoring eight points (four goals, four assists) in eight contests.
The five-foot-ten, 195-pound native of St. Petersburg, Russia was originally signed by Toronto as a free agent on Apr. 7, 2020. He was acquired by San Jose from Toronto in exchange for Antti Suomela on Apr. 12, 2021.
