Minnesota Wild sign Maxim Shabanov to one-year $1.6M deal
The Minnesota Wild signed forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, $1.6 million contract for the 2026-27 season on July 2, 2026. President of hockey operations Bill Guerin announced the deal after the New York Islanders declined to extend a qualifying offer, making the 25-year-old Russian winger an unrestricted free agent.
Key Takeaways
- Shabanov joins Minnesota on a one-year, $1.6 million deal covering the 2026-27 NHL season.
- He posted 18 points in 44 games during his rookie year with the Islanders after starring in the KHL.
- The Wild add skill up front after losing Mats Zuccarello, Vladimir Tarasenko and Marcus Johansson.
- Shabanov ranked third in KHL scoring in 2024-25 with 67 points for Traktor Chelyabinsk.
Why did the Minnesota Wild sign Maxim Shabanov?
Minnesota needed another creative forward after an offseason that saw Mats Zuccarello, Vladimir Tarasenko and Marcus Johansson leave, according to The Hockey News. Shabanov gives GM Bill Guerin a low-risk, one-year bet on a player known for elite puck skills, vision and offensive creativity.
The Hockey News described him as a strong fit alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Danilla Yurov. Minnesota quietly added the shifty playmaker on the same day Guerin formally announced the signing through the club.
What were Shabanov's NHL rookie numbers?
Shabanov, 25, collected 18 points (5-13=18), two penalty minutes and 56 shots on goal in 44 games with the Islanders last season, per the Minnesota Wild. The 5-foot-9, 167-pound Chelyabinsk native scored in his NHL debut on Oct. 9 at Pittsburgh and posted his first multi-point game (2-1=3) on Nov. 20 at Detroit.
His NHL production fell short of his KHL scoring pace, which helps explain why New York let him walk without a qualifying offer. Minnesota now gets a chance to unlock more of that upside in a new system.
How good was Shabanov in the KHL?
Before crossing the Atlantic, Shabanov spent four seasons (2021-25) with Traktor Chelyabinsk. He totaled 150 points (67-83=150), 26 penalty minutes and a plus-23 rating in 207 KHL games.
In 2024-25 he ranked third in league scoring with 67 points (23-44=67) in 65 games and earned a spot on the KHL First All-Star Team. He added 20 points (10-10=20) in 21 playoff games as Traktor advanced in the 2025 Gagarin Cup Playoffs, leading the KHL in playoff goals and plus-minus (+14). He also played in the 2024 and 2025 KHL All-Star Games.
What does the contract mean for the Wild?
The one-year term keeps Minnesota flexible while Shabanov tries to prove his NHL game can match his Russian production. At $1.6 million, the deal is a manageable gamble for a team chasing more depth scoring behind its core stars.
For more roster moves and breaking sports headlines, follow our Celebrity Breaking News coverage as NHL free agency continues to reshape lineups across the league.