Shabanov’s deal with the Wild is worth $1.6 million. Nick Wosika / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
July 2, 2026 1:02 pm EDT Updated
ST. PAUL, MINN. – Not long after acquiring winger Blake Coleman and defenseman Olli Maatta on Thursday, the Wild signed young forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, $1.6 million contract. Shabanov, 25, wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer Monday by the Islanders.
The Wild envision him as a top-nine forward. While he’s smaller at 5-foot-9, he’s known to be really skilled and player who can support good players in a scoring position. He’s quick and shifty, can make plays and will get to the hard areas. A left-handed shot, Shabanov can skate on both wings.
In his first NHL season last year, he registered five goals and 18 points in 44 games.
Shabanov spent four seasons (2021-25) with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, where he scored 67 goals and 150 points over 207 games. He ranked third in the KHL in regular-season scoring in 2024-25 with 67 points across 65 games and earned a spot on KHL’s first All-Star team. He scored 20 points in 21 games during the 2025 KHL playoffs, leading the league with 10 goals. He played in the 2025 and 2024 KHL All-Star Games.
He will be supported in Minnesota by fellow Russian natives Kirill Kaprizov, Yakov Trenin and Danila Yurov.
Jul 2, 2026
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