NHL Midseason Report Card: A Look At Ivan Barbashev

1. Ivan Barbashev's Biggest Strengths

When Ivan Barbashev was acquired from the St. Louis Blues for Zach Dean last season, the goal was to get Eichel a partner-in-crime. Not only was he needed on even strength, but on the man advantage. The Russian forward has delivered on the power play, making the maligned unit better.

This season, Barbashev has three power play goals and a power play assist. He is one power play goal shy of his career high (2021-2022) and is projected to pass that mark.

Barbashev has also been a physical body, compiling 81 hits this season. He plays well into the Golden Knights's defensive philosophy, knocking around opponents with ease. The former Blue won't block many shots, but he can wear down opponents quickly.

2. Ivan Barbashev's Weaknesses

One glaring issue with Ivan Barbashev has been his inconsistency. He is prone to cold streaks where he doesn't score a goal or an assist for a while. Now, when I say a cold streak, I mean ICE COLD, as in seven straight games without a point cold.

That played a major part in the center only scoring five goals and three assists in the first two months. Fortunately, Barbashev has picked up the slack in the past couple of months. However, he's still prone to offensive dry spells that can hurt the team.

If Ivan Barbashev can start scoring on a regular basis, that means a world of good for the Golden Knights's chances of another Stanley Cup. That's especially true once his partner-in-crime, Jack Eichel, returns to the fold. Imagine how tough Vegas would be with the duo clicking on all cylinders.

3. Ivan Barbashev's Grade

Ivan Barbashev has proved himself to be an excellent two-way forward. He plays his game and expands it to all 200 ft. of the ice, making him a force at every turn. That has led to him being slotted anywhere in the lineup, where he thrives in any spot. The former Blue has also proven to be a special teams asset, where he makes his mark on the power play.

All Barbashev needs to do is score regularly. Breaking out of seven-game slumps and getting himself into Bruce Cassidy's offense will help the cause. It will also boost other aspects of the Golden Knights, including the power play. If he can do this, the Vegas Golden Knights can bank on repeating as Stanley Cup champions and owning the Pacific Division again.