Report: Leafs, Coyotes front-runners to land KHL forward Barabanov

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes are considered the favorites to sign Russian forward Alexander Barabanov, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Barabanov's agent, Dan Milstein, will begin interviewing interested NHL teams Tuesday, Dreger adds.

The 25-year-old winger has played seven seasons with the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg and racked up 11 goals and 20 points through 43 games in 2019-20. He captured a pair of Gagarin Cups in 2015 and '17.

Internationally, Barabanov won a bronze medal for Russia at the 2014 world juniors and earned gold at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.