Hockey

Maxim Shabanov Prioritized Ice Time And Fit In Choosing Islanders

Published: Jul 3, 2025, 10:16 AM
4 min read
Updated: Jul 8, 2025, 8:44 AM

Key Takeaways 

  • Maxim Shabanov picked the Islanders after evaluating role, linemates, and power-play systems over money or hype.
  • Utah, Philadelphia, Vegas, Boston, and the Rangers were among the NHL teams pushing hard to sign him.
  • His agent Alexander Chernykh said the forward took time to understand every detail, with talks involving coaches and system breakdowns.
Maxim Shabanov

Maxim Shabanov (Photo by hctraktor.org)

The New York Islanders have signed forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 24-year-old was one of the most sought-after undrafted free agents coming out of the Kontinental Hockey League this summer.

“There were a lot of options,” Shabanov’s agent, Alexander Chernykh, told RG in an exclusive interview. “Utah really wanted him. So did Philadelphia, Vegas, Boston, the Rangers. So many teams. Some clubs even lost patience because the decision took a while. We were getting five or six calls a day.”

Shabanov had a breakout season in the KHL, recording 67 points (23 goals, 44 assists) in 65 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk. He added 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 21 playoff games, helping Traktor reach the Gagarin Cup Final. He led the league in playoff goals and plus-minus (+14) and was a finalist for the KHL’s Most Valuable Player award.

Despite going undrafted, Shabanov became a top NHL target thanks to his scoring touch and strong two-way play.

Role and Ice Time

According to Chernykh, Shabanov took his time to make the right choice—focusing on how and where he would fit in, not just which team offered the most.

“He has his own checklist,” Chernykh said. “The most important thing was ice time—how much he’d play, who he’d play with. He went deep into the details. He asked about power-play systems, he talked to coaches, he wanted to understand everything. That’s why the negotiations took so long.”

Shabanov does not yet speak English fluently, so most of the conversations were handled through his representatives.

Next Steps: Training, Visas, and Timeline

The forward finished his KHL season in mid-May and is now beginning his offseason training. According to Chernykh, plans are being made in coordination with the Islanders, and visa arrangements are underway.

“He’s been resting for a bit, but now we’re starting to build a plan for his summer,” Chernykh added. “There’s a lot to take care of—training, paperwork, logistics.”

Chernykh also represents Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov, who is currently a restricted free agent. Contract extension talks are ongoing.

“The process is ongoing,” Chernykh said. “We’re still discussing timelines and other details.”

<p>Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.</p><p>Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.</p><p>Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.</p><p>In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.</p><p>Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.</p><p>Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia</p><p>Languages: English, Russian</p>
Interests:
NHL
Nutrition
Interviews

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Hockey
News Report
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain

NHL veteran Jimmy Vesey is exploring a move to the KHL, with SKA St. Petersburg emerging as a top contender for the 32-year-old forward.

4
07/29/2025
Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain
Hockey
Analysis
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI

RG asked four AI models to rank the top 10 NHL players ever using a weighted formula. The results reveal both consensus and controversy.

16
07/28/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI
Hockey
Interview
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey

Beckett Sennecke is coming off a dominant season and says he’s open to whatever path the Anaheim Ducks believe is best for his NHL development.

7
07/26/2025
Andrew Knoll
Andrew Knoll
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey
Hockey
Interview
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid

Returning NHL goalie Ivan Prosvetov joins the Calgary Flames on a one-year deal, determined to secure the starter’s job and face star Connor McDavid.

6
07/23/2025
Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid
Prev
...
Next

Hockey Writers

James Murphy
James Murphy
NHL Reporter

James Murphy is a veteran sports journalist covering the NHL, NCAA and CHL hockey for RG.

With 25 years of experience covering the Bruins, the NHL, NCAA, CHL and more, Murphy has seen it all when it comes to hockey. His hockey black book is filled with Hall of Famers, current players, coaches, management, scouts and a diverse array of hockey media personalities who have lived and worked in and around the game. Murphy also currently co-hosts The Eye Test podcast with Pierre McGuire and, along with McGuire, interviews NHL owners and executives, as well as NHL and NCAA head coaches and players daily.

The Arlington, Massachusetts, native began his writing career in hockey in 2001, when the Boston Bruins raised one of his childhood idols, Ray Bourque’s No. 77, to the rafters before their 2001–02 season opener. For 22 of his 25 years as a hockey reporter, Murphy covered the Bruins daily, including their victorious 2011 Stanley Cup run and their runs to the 2013 and 2019 Finals, multiple NHL drafts and countless Stanley Cup playoffs. He did all that for the Boston Metro, NHL.com, NESN.com and ESPN Boston.

In addition to his print work covering the Bruins, Murphy also made regular TV appearances on NESN, Fox 25 Boston, ESPN and NHL Network. From 2008 to 2012, Murphy hosted The Hockey Primetime Show on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and made numerous appearances on national and international radio shows.

Ironically, his three years not covering the Bruins were spent covering their archrivals, the Montreal Canadiens. From 2012 to 2015, Murphy was based in Montreal and covered the Canadiens for NHL.com and TSN.ca. He also appeared regularly on TSN 690 radio and CTV.

Murphy returned to Boston in 2015 and left the media business to work in sales and marketing for LiveBarn, a Montreal-based sports streaming company, for four years. In 2019, Murphy once again became a Bruins beat reporter, this time writing for Boston Hockey Now. He spent four seasons working for BHN before arriving at RG in 2024 and also dedicated more time to The Eye Test podcast.

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.