The Minnesota Wild have added forward Max Shabanov on a one-year contract worth $1.6 million for the 2026-27 NHL season.
The team announced the signing on July 2, 2026, after Shabanov became an unrestricted free agent.
Shabanov, 25, entered free agency when the New York Islanders chose not to extend a qualifying offer.
In his rookie season with the Islanders, he posted five goals and 18 points in 44 games, averaging 13:41 of ice time per contest.
Injuries limited Shabanov to roughly half of the previous campaign. Despite the health concerns, the Wild face minimal financial risk given the relatively low salary commitment.
Before his NHL debut, Shabanov spent two seasons with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, recording 48 goals and 117 points in 129 games between 2023 and 2025.
The signing leaves Minnesota with approximately $795,000 in salary cap space following earlier trades for Blake Coleman and Olli Määttä.
