Sharks forward almost traded for free on Deadline Day!

The San Jose Sharks were close to moving forward Alexander Barabanov prior to Friday’s trade deadline, but the trigger was never pulled. Insider Frank Seravalli went on to say that San Jose was somewhat desperate to move the undrafted forward and a transaction could have ended in Barabanov being moved for absolutely nothing…

“Sharks were calling teams in the last hour and saying take this guy for free.”

Days prior to the deadline, Barabanov had been scratched from the Sharks’ lineup due to trade-related reasons and the forward was even excited at the chance of getting shipped out to a contender.

The New York Rangers reportedly came close to acquiring Barabanov, but the move never materialized.

“A source told San Jose Hockey Now that Barabanov was about to be dealt to the New York Rangers before the Hertl shocker reached the finish line about 20 minutes away from the Trade Deadline,” San Jose Hockey Now reports.

That’s because the Sharks were unable to retain part of Barabanov’s $2.5 million AAV as they used the team’s last salary retention slot on Tomas Hertl’s contract when they traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights in the blockbuster deal of the year.

“That’s life. You can’t control that,” Barabanov added when speaking with San Jose Hockey Now today.

Barabanov, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has had a rough year in San Jose, posting just three goals and 11 points in 40 contests this year.

As for Sharks general manager Mike Grier, he was quite productive at the deadline this year, moving Anthony Duclair to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and on Friday, shipping defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk to the Calgary Flames, blue liner Radim Simek to the Detroit Red Wings, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to the New Jersey Devils and Hertl to the Golden Knights.

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