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RaiN · 06-14-2015, 12:01 PM

(Andrey Barbashev arrives in Toronto early Friday morning - greeted by North Star fans)

After a rejuvenating off-season, Andrey Barbashev arrived in the city of Toronto in the early hours of Friday morning. There is lots of hope and promise for the young Russian star who is expected to crack the North Stars roster this upcoming season. But letâ€™s not forget people, he is still a rookie and he is still learning how to be a professional on a day-to-day basis. Barbashev has yet to play an SHL regular season game and already fans, skeptics and analysis are projecting him to be a top candidate to win the Rookie of the Year award. Many say that Andrey was ready to be in the SHL the previous season, however the North Stars organization respected Andreyâ€™s and his good friend Lukaâ€™s request of being sent back down to the Vancouver Whalers for one last shot at the Four Star Cup. Although Andrey and the Whalers were unsuccessful at capturing the trophy, there are still many positives to take from his final season as a Whaler. Barbashevâ€™s growth has been tremendous during his 3 seasons in Vancouver, and now all eyes are on the rookie to shed some light on a Toronto organization that has yet to win a Challenge Cup despite being a franchise from the very beginning of the SHL.

Lotâ€™s of exciting events happened prior to Barbashevâ€™s first pre-season game against the Edmonton Blizzard scheduled for Saturday. He was offered to throw the first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays game that afternoon. He along with other fellow North Star rookies joined him to take in their first baseball game at the Rogers Centre.

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(Barbashev throws opening first pitch at Blue Jays Home game Saturday afternoon)

After taking in a few beers with the boys at the game, Barbashev along with fellow North Star rookies Johnson, Nichushkin, Benson and Zaitsev were outside the Air Canada Centre holding a two hour autograph session. North Stars were also allowing fans to exchange their Sawyer and Stinson jerseys to get revamped North Star jerseys for the S24 season.

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[Image: 20130504-590-leafstailgate-16.jpg]

(North Star fans gather at North Stars Square eager to meet the future of Toronto)

Later that night, as the boys decided to get some rest for their first big game, Barbashev and Benson decided to hit the town on a night out in big city. Both players formally played in B.C with their respective junior clubs Vancouver and Kelowna. But and now the Bâ€™s are repping the 411 together. Oddly enough, even though the two players have been battling it out against one another for the past two seasons, they have put their differences aside and may honestly be the SHLâ€™s best dynamic duo in the near future.

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[Image: tumblr_m2ua0aiFhb1qbkjcso1_500.png]

(Barbashev and Benson walking through a crowded downtown Toronto)

Barbs and Benson may have gotten a little too carried away though as the boys racked up a $300,000.00 bar tab with just themselves. The boys looked like they had a great time, but the North Stars public relations staff were not impressed when they saw this image posted via twitter at 1:00am EST.

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[Image: brad-marchand-and-tyler-seguin-partying1.jpg]

(Andrey Barbashev and David Benson lit up in Toronto Nightclub)

The following day Barbashev and Benson refused to answer questions regarding their first full night in Toronto. However, when asked why they spent so much money right away, Barbashev answered â€œContract is humungous bigâ€.