"Signing Maxim Shabanov wasn't an easy process for the NY Islanders in any regard. Multiple organizations were interested in signing the skillful Russian winger, four of which offered contracts, including the NY Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers - the latter looking at one point to be the front-runners for his services. Ultimately, the 24-year-old chose to sign a one-year ELC with the Islanders, saying his heart led him to Long Island."
"One potential deciding factor for Shabanov may be the influx of Russian players the Islanders have added over the years, including Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov, Alexander Romanov, and Max Tsyplakov. "I don't know Ilya Sorokin," Shabanov said. "Sasha (Alexander) Romanov wrote to me personally, congratulated me on signing the contract. We exchanged a few phrases. I communicate with Max Tsyplakov, and we discussed a few things.""
"The undersized forward spent his entire career playing in Russia with the Traktor Chelyabinsk organization, including the 2023-24 season with former Islanders forward Nikita Soshnikov. Shabanov's 50 points ( 25 G, 25 A) in 2024-25 were the 16th most among all KHL players, making multiple highlight reel plays on the way to his best professional season. Shabanov should add an extra element of skill to the Islanders forward group, and will be a welcomed addition to the power play unit."
Maxim Shabanov, a 24-year-old Russian winger, signed a one-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders after receiving offers from multiple organizations, including the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. The decision was guided by personal preference, with Shabanov saying his heart and inner voice led him to Long Island. Familiarity with Russian teammates such as Alexander Romanov and Max Tsyplakov helped his transition, and Romanov congratulated him personally. Shabanov spent his career with Traktor Chelyabinsk and produced a 50-point ( 25 G, 25 A) 2024-25 KHL season, finishing 16th in league scoring. The Islanders expect him to bring skill and power-play offense.
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