ST. PAUL, Minn. — Maxim Shabanov may be new to the Minnesota Wild, but the organization has been trying to bring him to St. Paul for much longer than most fans realize.

Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin revealed Minnesota first pursued the Russian forward while he was still playing in the KHL.

"We actually tried to sign him coming out of Russia," Guerin said. "There was a lot to be excited about with him because he's on the upward trajectory."

Although Shabanov ultimately spent another season in North America before signing with the Wild this offseason, Guerin believes that extra year will help ease his transition to the Wild.

"I think he probably would be more comfortable because he's already spent a full year in North America, figuring out the lifestyle, the NHL, how this game's played over here," Guerin said. "Like I said, we tried to get him coming out of Russia as a free agent. So, we're very happy to have him now and excited to see what he can do on our team."

There also appears to be little doubt about where the 24-year-old fits into Minnesota's plans.

When asked whether Shabanov is expected to make the NHL roster this season, Guerin didn't hesitate.

"Oh yeah, absolutely."

While head coach John Hynes will ultimately determine line combinations during training camp, Guerin also confirmed the organization envisions Shabanov filling a significant offensive role.

"That's a good question," Guerin said when asked if Shabanov could replace Mats Zuccarello in the lineup. "Zuccy's Zuccy. Shabanov is Shabanov. He's a different player. He's a different person."

"We see him in that top-six role, but we have to see who he's going to have the best chemistry with."

Minnesota lost a veteran playmaker when Zuccarello departed in free agency, but Guerin cautioned against expecting Shabanov to simply replicate what the longtime Wild winger brought to the lineup.

Instead, the organization believes the skilled forward can establish his own identity while adding another dynamic scoring option to a roster that has gotten younger this offseason.

For Guerin, signing Shabanov wasn't a last-minute response to offseason roster turnover. It was the completion of a pursuit that began years earlier and one the Wild are confident will pay dividends immediately.

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