Shabanov's deal with the Wild is worth $1.6 million. Nick Wosika / Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesJuly 2, 2026 Updated 1:29 pm EDTST. PAUL, MINN. — Not long after acquiring winger Blake Coleman and defenseman Olli Maatta on Thursday, the Minnesota Wild signed young forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, $1.6 million contract. Shabanov, 25, wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer Monday by the Islanders.The Wild envision him as a top-nine forward. While he’s smaller at 5-foot-9, he’s known to be skilled and a player who can support good players in a scoring position. He’s quick and shifty, can make plays and will get to the hard areas. A left-handed shot, Shabanov can skate on both wings.In 2025-26, his first NHL season, he registered five goals and 18 points in 44 games.Shabanov spent four seasons (2021 to ’25) with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, scoring 67 goals and 150 points over 207 games. He ranked third in the KHL in regular-season scoring in 2024-25 with 67 points across 65 games and earned a spot on the KHL’s first All-Star Team. He scored 20 points in 21 games during the 2025 KHL playoffs, leading the league with 10 goals. He played in the 2025 and 2024 KHL All-Star Games.He will be supported in Minnesota by fellow Russian natives Kirill Kaprizov, Yakov Trenin and Danila Yurov.Jul 2, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms