Projecting the 2024-25 season for Ivan Barbashev

Getting paid is one of the best feelings ever for a person. You can spend your money how you wish and pay off bills. It eases the burden for numerous people and provides them with a sense of comfort. Ivan Barbashev had a similar experience last season, for he entered a new five-year contract worth $5 million annually.

After hitting it off with Jack Eichel during the 2022-23 Stanley Cup run, he was due for a big payday. Barbashev had a knack for physicality and getting on a breakaway, making him a dangerous forward. Therefore, he was expected to take the next step and become part of a more underrated line in the NHL.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned for the Golden Knights last season. Jack Eichel missed time with a lower-body injury, leaving the team without their premier scorer. Before that, Barbashev started slow, leaving fans to wonder if everything was okay with the Russian center. Overall, 2023-24 was a mess, with the Golden Knights prematurely exiting the Stanley Cup playoffs.

So where does Barbashev's stats lie for next season? Will he rebound and get off to a fast start for Vegas? He can revitalize the top line with Eichel and turn them into a deadlier threat. Here's how the forward projects to finish the 2024-25 season.

Predicting the 2024-25 season for Ivan Barbashev

Last season, Ivan Barbashev scored 19 goals and 26 assists with the Vegas Golden Knights. It was virtually on par with when he was acquired from the St. Louis Blues the year prior, where he scored 16 goals and 29 assists altogether. He has stayed healthy in his last three seasons, only missing one game. Therefore, let's look at where he projects based on that given scale.

His production started picking up in 2021-22 when he scored 26 goals and 34 assists for the Blues. This was where he became an attractive piece for NHL teams, bringing physicality and speed to any lineup. He should add those elements to the Golden Knights this season, making for a nice pairing with Jack Eichel again.

So how well will he do at the end of next season? Barbashev should have the following stat line at the end of the 2024-25 campaign:

20 goals, 30 assists, +10 for the upcoming season

If Eichel plays a full season and the Golden Knights don't make any moves heading into the new year, Barbashev should have a productive campaign. He's proven to be a good all-around offensive player who can act as a facilitator and scorer, making him a multi-dimensional threat. With Vegas thinner at forward, he can boost the unit with a good season.

What outside factors can influence his production with the Vegas Golden Knights?

The obvious one will be injuries, which have hampered the team in recent years. It's already been mentioned how Jack Eichel was out with a lower-body injury last season, which hurt the Vegas Golden Knights. However, fans must worry about other players such as Mark Stone, which could also hurt the team. That could cut into Ivan Barbashev's production, especially with the younger prospects not adapting to the faster NHL style.

But one factor could greatly benefit Barbashev's stat line: Acquiring a big name. Yes, Martin Necas is off the table after signing a two-year contract extension with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, big names like Mitch Marner and Patrik Laine are still floating around. Opposing general managers have talked about how the Golden Knights have been silent all season, indicating they're plotting a bigger move. Could it be one of those two players? Perhaps it'll come out of nowhere, i.e. a Tomas Hertl-type trade?

Whatever the case, a big move can greatly benefit Barbashev in the 2024-25 season. Barbashev had a great campaign when he joined the Golden Knights, scoring six goals and 10 assists in 23 games in 2022-23. If everything goes according to plan, he could be one of the more important pieces to the team for the upcoming season.