At least in my eyes, Barabanov completes the Timo - Hertl - Bara line. That is a fully functional legit top line. If the Sharks are in the business of convincing us they’re “competing”, then roughly $3M AAV to complete that line makes a lot of sense. There is not many, if any at all, UFAs they could add that would accomplish that with 100% certainty (lol). They could spend more and perhaps get better results, but IMO there aren’t that many obvious options for the price, and historically the Sharks are much better at retaining their own UFAs than bringing in outside replacements via UFA.
I can definitely hear the arguments of small sample size, it’s only been a season and some change. However, when matched with Hertl and a power forward (Kane/Meier) he has been a very effective third piece. Additionally, he’s not 22, he isn’t going through growing pains, he’s more or less the player we all see.
With regards to Lebanc, a player I really like, he seems to be a solid foil to Barabanov, in the sense that, where Barabanov has quite clearly carved a place as the very effective Hertl and Meier/Kane third wheel - Lebanc has never looked comfortable or particularly effective when not centered by Thornton. There’s talent there, and it has been effective at the NHL level. But does this team have the other pieces to maximize it (or at least capitalize on it)? To me it seems murky, at best.
I don’t think Lebanc is a good fit for a tough minute top 6 line with Couture and whomever else they could put on that line. He definitely doesn’t fit with Meier and Hertl as well as Barabanov does. So then, does he do anything, or fit better with Bordeleau on the third line? To me, no.
Lebanc has been a decently productive player, when he has a fit on a line. I don’t think the Sharks are trending towards be able to provide a line that maximizes his contribution. There are very likely other teams that could. I would gladly take Barabanov at ~$3M for a few years, and trade Lebanc at something approaching his value with an eye towards using that value to fill another hole.