Maxim Shabanov has the potential to be a good addition to the Wild.
The Minnesota Wild have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Among their newcomers is forward Maxim Shabanov, as the Wild signed him to a one-year, $1.6 million contract in free agency.
Shabanov just completed his first NHL season during the 2025-26 campaign. In 44 games with the New York Islanders, the 25-year-old winger posted five goals, 13 assists, and 18 points. Overall, the skilled forward had some growing pains during his first season but also showed some promise.
Yet, now that Shabanov is entering his second NHL season and getting a much-needed fresh start with the Wild, it is fair to wonder if he will put together a breakout year for Minnesota.
Shabanov demonstrated in the KHL that he certainly has offensive skill. During the 2024-25 season with Traktor Chelyabinsk, he posted 23 goals, 44 assists, and 67 points in 65 games. With numbers like these, he has some offensive potential, and the possibility of him producing better numbers in Minnesota should not be ruled out.
Shabanov is also expected to be given a prime opportunity to succeed with the Wild. While speaking to reporters earlier this off-season, GM Bill Guerin said he sees Shabanov taking over off-season departure Mat Zuccarello's spot in Minnesota's top six this upcoming season. If this comes to fruition, that could certainly help the skilled forward hit a new level offensively.
"We see him in that top-six role, but we have to see who he's going to have the best chemistry with," Guerin said to reporters, including The Hockey News' Dylan Loucks.
If Shabanov ends up finding his fit in the Wild's top six and taps more into his offensive potential, he could be a fantastic value signing for Minnesota. It is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season he puts together for the Wild, but it is hard to dislike this low-risk, high-reward move from the Wild.
