A forward who has excelled in the KHL is moving to the ranks of the NHL championship favorite.
The Minnesota Wild has strengthened its offense with Russian forward Maksim Shabanov. The team announces that it has signed the 25-year-old forward to a one-year contract worth $1.6 million.
At only 173 cm tall, Shabanov arrived in the NHL last summer with high expectations, but his first season in North America did not go as hoped. The undrafted forward played 44 regular season games with the New York Islanders, recording 5+13=18 points. The Islanders did not offer the forward a contract extension.
Before moving to the NHL, Shabanov was one of the most dangerous forwards in the KHL. While playing for Traktor Chelyabinsk, the forward scored impressive numbers of 23+44=67 points in 65 regular season games and continued his great form in the playoffs. In 21 playoff games, Shabanov racked up 20 points (10+10).
In the Wild, Shabanov joins a large group of Russian players. The Minnesota roster already includes star forward Kirill Kaprizov, Danila Jurov, and Jakov Trenin.
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