Nearing the trade deadline, the St Louis Blues trade winger Ivan Barbashev to the Vegas Golden Knights. In exchange, they received forward prospect Zach Dean from Vegas. Barbashev is in his last year of a two-year, $4,5 million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent by the end of the season.
TRADE ALERT: The Blues have acquired 2021 first-round pick Zach Dean from the Vegas Golden Knights. #stlblues
DETAILS >>> https://t.co/t2lkgNgE2t pic.twitter.com/S9cstbAZ2w
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) February 26, 2023
St Louis Blues Trade Ivan Barbashev to Vegas Golden Knights
Following the pattern set a few weeks ago, the Blues have made yet another trade before the deadline. With this Blues trade, they’re sending their last player on a pending contract away and receiving assets. As they continue to fall down the standings, this trade has made something clear. They’re currently focusing on the future. And it is safe to say that they have ended up on the better end for this one.
Zach Dean is a young and strong centre that can play well on both ends of the ice. If developed well, he can be a great addition to the Blues roster. And a better player than Barbashev. As of now, he has 49 points in 38 games in the QMJHL, with 25 goals so far. Even though that isn’t much for the QMJHL, it he has been pretty good so far. And the Blues have enough tools to make him even better.
St Louis continues to add to their prospect cupboards giving the Blues a lot of future assets to work with. The team is interested in a re-tool and not a rebuild. Picking up these assets gives them plenty of options at either the deadline or in the offseason. General manager Doug Armstrong has done a great job of building up assets to help re-tool his team on the fly.
How This Impacts the Knights
The Knights are at the top of the Pacific Division and gearing up for a long playoff run. They pick up a versatile winger in Ivan Barbashev who can be slotted up and down their lineup. He has a plethora of playoff experience as he was a part of the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup-winning team in 2019. Barbashev is a great penalty killer and he was a part of the Blues’ penalty kill for the last several seasons. And now, he will be able to help out the Golden Knights in this department as well. He is a big body that plays the game the right way and he will be able a great asset for a playoff run with the Knights.
Main photo: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
