Maxim Shabanov impressed throughout training camp. Now the Wild winger gets his first opportunity to show what he can do alongside Kirill Kaprizov when the games count.
The preseason auditions are over. Now it counts for Maxim Shabanov.
The Minnesota Wild will open the 2026-27 regular season Thursday night against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, and Shabanov will be one of the more intriguing players to watch as Minnesota begins a new season.
After signing with the Wild during the offseason, Shabanov spent much of training camp getting an opportunity alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Danila Yurov.
Now comes his first chance to show what that combination can do when the games count.
Shabanov steadily improved throughout training camp and started to look increasingly comfortable as the preseason progressed.
"He got better and better as the game went," Wild head coach John Hynes said during the preseason. "I think overall in camp, he's gotten better and better. He understands kind of what's going on."
Shabanov also found the back of the net during the preseason while creating several other scoring opportunities.
The 25-year-old made it clear during camp that the opportunity to play alongside Kaprizov is something he wants to earn.
"He a good player," Shabanov said of Kaprizov. "I happy to play with him. I need try everyday work to play with him. Such a good guy and good skill."
Shabanov also said one of the reasons he chose Minnesota was the opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup.
"It's a good team," Shabanov said. "This team have chance to win [Stanley] Cup and I want help team win a Cup."
Thursday represents the first real test.
Playing alongside Kaprizov comes with an obvious opportunity, but Shabanov will have to show he can complement one of the NHL's top offensive players once the pace and intensity increase in the regular season.
Watch how involved Shabanov is in creating offense, whether he can get himself into scoring areas and, perhaps most importantly, whether he can make plays with Kaprizov rather than simply looking to get him the puck.
Minnesota entered training camp with openings higher in its lineup following significant turnover on the wings during the offseason. Shabanov was given an opportunity to seize one of those spots and did enough throughout camp to remain there entering the regular season.
Now he gets the chance to prove he belongs.
The Wild won't learn everything about Shabanov from one night in Nashville. But after weeks of practices and preseason games, Thursday provides the first meaningful look at what Minnesota might have in its new winger.
And that makes Maxim Shabanov the Wild player to watch in Game 1.
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