Toronto the front-runner for Alexander Barabanov

Reports out of Russia are stating Alexander Barabanov is ready to make the jump to the NHL, and while there have been several teams kicking the tires on the forward, it appears there's one team in particular that is the favourite at the moment.

According to Igor Eronko with Sport-Express, three teams were in the running, including the Arizona Coyotes. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be the front-runners at this time.

Barabanov, 25, has been playing with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL since he was eligible to make the jump to the pros in the 2013-14 season. His best year came last season with he had 46 points, including 17 goals, in 58 games. In 2019-20, he recorded 11 goals and 20 points in 43 games.

Barabanov was a member of the Olympic Athletes of Russia (OAR) team that won the gold medal in hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

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