Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Maxim Shabanov to $1.6 Million Deal

The Minnesota Wild have signed forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, $1.6 million contract for the 2026-27 season.

What happened?

The move came shortly after the club acquired winger Blake Coleman and defenseman Olli Maatta.

Shabanov became an unrestricted free agent after the New York Islanders chose not to issue him a qualifying offer earlier this week.

Why it matters for Minnesota Wild

The Russian forward is expected to provide offensive depth after the departures of Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson, and Vladimir Tarasenko this offseason.

He made his NHL debut with the Islanders during the 2025-26 campaign, recording five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in 44 games.

What comes next?

The Minnesota Wild are currently standing 3rd in the Western Conference with a 46-24 record, on a W1 streak, after winning 3-2 vs Anaheim Ducks on 2026-04-15.

Shabanov will now join fellow Russian players Kirill Kaprizov, Yakov Trenin, and Danila Yurov, giving the Wild another experienced scoring option.

The 25-year-old winger is a left-handed shot, capable of playing either wing, and is projected as a top-nine forward.

Before arriving in North America, Shabanov was one of the KHL's best offensive players with Traktor Chelyabinsk, compiling 67 goals and 83 assists for 150 points in 207 games.

His standout 2024-25 season featured 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points in 65 games, ranking third in the KHL in regular-season scoring.

Shabanov also excelled in the 2025 KHL playoffs, producing 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 21 games as Traktor reached the Gagarin Cup Final.

He led the postseason in goals and finished with a league-best plus-14 rating while appearing in both the 2024 and 2025 KHL All-Star Games.

The Minnesota Wild's recent trades and signings, including the acquisition of Blake Coleman, have reshaped their roster for the upcoming season.

With the addition of Shabanov, the team aims to strengthen their offense and make a push for the playoffs.

The Wild's fans will be eager to see how Shabanov performs in his new role and how he contributes to the team's success.