Barbashev, Blues come to terms on two-year contract

Last of RFA's to sign, forward will get AAV of $1.475 million per season

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The last remaining piece to the defending Stanley Cup champions' puzzle was inserted into the equation when Ivan Barbashev signed a two-year, $2.95 million contract.

Ivan Barbashev

Barbashev's average annual value comes in at $1.475 million and leaves the Blues with just under $1.2 million in cap space entering the 2019-20 season.

Barbashev, 23, was coming off a stellar season in which he produced 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 80 regular-season games before becoming a key component in helping the Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in June when they defeated the Boston Bruins in seven games; he had three goals and three assists in 25 Stanley Cup playoff games and played a key role on a line with Alexander Steen and 

But Barbashev entered the summer as a restricted free agent and became the last of the RFA's to sign, with less than two weeks before training camp begins.

The contract comes in at a great value for the Blues. As it was reported here, Barbashev was initually seeking a multi-year contract, preferably to what Sundqvist got (four years) and seeking an AAV between $1.75-$2 million.

WIth Barbashev in the fold, the Blues will open training camp with all but two skaters (Pat Maroon and Michael Del Zotto) looking to defend their title.

Del Zotto, who didn't get into a playoff game, signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Anaheim Ducks and Maroon recently signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.