Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 2026-27 Minnesota Wild are going to look a lot different than the team we saw lose in the second round of the playoffs a few months ago. Mats Zuccarello is gone, as is Vladimir Tarasenko and Marcus Johansson.
And unless general manager Bill Guerin pulls off a surprise blockbuster trade in the next two weeks, the Wild will enter training camp with questions up and down the roster.
Some of the most glaring holes are on the first line, where not only is Kirill Kaprizov still in need a legitimate No. 1 center, but now that Zuccy is gone, he needs partner on the opposite wing too.
Fellow Russian Max Shabanov expected to get first shot with Kirill Kaprizov
Unless/until Guerin finds a way to lure Dylan Larkin away from Detroit, Ryan Hartman is expected to center the first line, next to Kaprizov. On the other wing, it’s believed by insiders like Michael Russo (The Athletic), that newcomer and fellow Russian Max Shabanov will get the first real shot on the first line.
A big focus in training camp will be tinkering with lines and seeing what chemistry can be created. Shabanov, a former KHL star who had an up-and-down rookie year with the New York Islanders, will likely get a chance to play with Kaprizov.
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Without a doubt, this is the opportunity of a lifetime for Shabanov, who’s entering his second season in the NHL. This is a 25-year-old kid who, last year, struggled to find his footing in a new country and new league.
In 44 games as a rookie with the New York Islanders, Max Shabanov posted just 5 goals and 13 assists (-5 +/-) in 44 games, mostly on the third line (13:41 TOI). When his one-year contract came due at the end of the 2026-27 season, neither side was interested in running it back, leading Shabanov to hit free agency just one year after he came into the league.
However, coming over from the KHL, Shabanov was seen as a potential game-changing wing. In his final season overseas, the 5’9″, 167 pound forward scored 23 goals and added 44 assists in 65 regular season games. His skill is undeniable.
Me: I’ve seen everything in hockey, nothing surprises me anymore
Max Shabanov: pic.twitter.com/6eKlphfXNs
— KHL (@khl_eng) December 11, 2024
During the playoffs, he got even better, potting 10 goals and assisting on 10 more, helping lead Traktor Chelyabinsk all the way to the KHL Championship. In other words, Max Shabanov has all the talent necessary to hold his own on the first line. The question is whether or not he’s ready for that kind of role.
Minnesota Wild impressed by Shabanov so far
Either way, the Minnesota Wild hope to find out during training camp, later this month. But Shabanov has been in the St. Paul for a while now. And at least one person inside the organization “that has been on the ice with Shabanov” has been raving to Russo over how “awesome” the Russian kid looks, entering camp.
Russo: “The one thing I did hear yesterday. I talked to somebody from the Wild, that has been on the ice with Shabanov. Shabanov is in town and he said he looks awesome. He said he’s got incredible skill, a brain for the game. So we’ll see how that translates. But doesn’t it feel like Shabanov is gonna get that first crack in camp on the Kaprizov line?”
Anthony LaPanta: “First crack for sure. And you know, I think there isn’t a lot of mystery with the roster. I think you’re right with all of that. The only thing that could change it, as we’ve been talking about for a month or so, is if there’s some kind of a deal made where it was a more players going out than coming in.”
Worst Seats in the House Podcast
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As Russo warns in the latest “Worst Seats in the House” Podcast, we’ll see how Max Shabanov’s impressive pre-camp workouts translate when the Minnesota Wild get to camp and eventually start playing regular season games again. But no doubt, playing with Kirill Kaprizov should help.
Not only does Kaprizov open up the ice for everyone around him, but he’s a fellow-Russian. And for a kid trying to find his footing in a new country and upgraded competition, that could be (hopefully) just as important to Shabanov’s development.
Mentioned in this article:Kirill Kaprizov Max Shabanov
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