 At the conclusion of the season, Barbashev was selected first overall by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2012 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.Barbashev joined the Wildcats in 2012 where he scored 62 points in his first season, and was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team.Eligible for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Barbashev was the only "A"-rated prospect on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's preliminary list of players to watch in the QMJHL.