Barabanov recorded 28 goals and a team-leading 63 assists, placing him second among all Spirit skaters with 91 points last season. After helping the Spirit claim the final postseason spot in the OHL’s Western Conference, Barabanov posted four points in four losses against the eventual Memorial Cup-winning Kitchener Rangers, while also leading the club with a plus-two rating.
One of the more notable re-entry prospects, Barabanov was an absolute delight to watch in Saginaw this year. Barabanov plays with a boatload of skill. He has quick hands and is always scanning for passing lanes, but he knows when he needs to shoot the puck himself, too. Barabanov does a solid job of exploiting open space, and he’s getting better defensively, too. He has always had talent, but the results are finally starting to follow – and it’s hard not to adore the nastiness in his game, either.
The 20-year-old has shown progression in each of his past three seasons. Barabanov saw his point totals rise from 17 to 39 to 91, showing that this is a player who has continued to improve as he has gained more experience at the junior hockey level. Listed at 6-foot-0, 177 pounds, Barabanov is set to join the University of Massachusetts in the NCAA’s Hockey East Conference. Last year, Massachusetts finished second in the conference and will be a good test for Barabanov as he makes the jump to the higher level of his hockey career.
With strong depth along the wing in the Maple Leafs’ roster, adding another center in the third round who has flashed scoring ability with some bite to his game could be a nice pick for John Chayka in his first draft running the Maple Leafs.