Maxim Shabanov agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Minnesota Wild, giving them a 25-year-old winger after the New York Islanders declined to extend him a qualifying offer earlier this week. He arrived as a free agent with last season’s numbers already on the board, and the Wild needed help after losing Mats Zuccarello, Vladimir Tarasenko and Marcus Johansson earlier this offseason.
Shabanov Adds Immediate Scoring
Shabanov played 44 NHL games last season and finished with five goals and 13 assists for 18 points. That production came after he spent the 2024-25 season with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, where he posted 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points in 65 games.
Wild Add Another Forward
The move fits a clear roster need for Minnesota. With three forwards gone earlier in the offseason, the Wild are replacing depth with a short-term deal rather than a long commitment, and that keeps the lineup flexible while adding a winger who has shown scoring touch in both the NHL and the KHL.
What Comes Next For Minnesota
The wrinkle is that the agreement may still need to be finalized, even as the contract terms are already in place. For the Wild, the important part is simple: they have a new forward option in Shabanov, and they brought him in on a one-year term that limits the risk if the fit is not immediate.
