New Jersey Devils prospect, Artyom Barabosha, signed a three-year extension with CSKA Moskva to remain in the KHL.
The 20-year-old defenseman played 21 games at the KHL level last season, scoring a goal and three assists.
New Jersey drafted Barabosha in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 198th overall.
Eliteprospects describes the Devils prospect as a solid, physical, defensive defenseman.
“He plays smart for the system he’s in, punishing puck carriers who are glued to the wall whilst leaving the middle of the ice relatively open. He is just a physical presence at all times with a lack of remorse for whoever he is hitting and a real lack of grace, losing his stick while hitting players on two separate occasions.”
As most seventh-round picks usually are, Barabosha was likely always a long shot for the NHL anyway.
Therefore, continuing to develop at Russia’s top level is the best course of action for the Devils prospect anyway.
As a prospect in the KHL, the Devils own Barabosha’s rights indefinitely, much like Arseni Gritsyuk and Yegor Zaitsev.
Barabosha was named a top KHL youngster back in December and was recognized for his aggressive play.
“A right-handed defenseman is a scarce position, so it’s always great for teams if such a player initially develops within the club’s system. In this regard, CSKA is fortunate with Artyom Barabosha. The large-framed blueliner made his debut in the league at the end of November and had a solid stretch in the early winter days. He contributed with assists in games against Traktor and Metallurg, and after the league break, he impressed by scoring against SKA.
“Although that goal didn’t affect the outcome (CSKA lost 2:6), it demonstrated that Barabosha can stand out not only with aggressive and tough play in his zone, which was his characteristic trait even in the JHL, but also by helping the team beyond the opponent’s blue line. Despite relatively modest playing time (sometimes less than ten minutes per game), the defenseman consistently directed shots on goal in almost every game, recorded 10 hits, and blocked 7 shots.”
Barabosha won’t likely be recognized in the same echelon as Seamus Casey, however, a 20-year-old defenseman making noise in the KHL is certainly something to at least keep an eye on periodically.
Perhaps, Barabosha could develop into a late NHL import following his KHL development.
More must-reads: