Rumor: Toronto, Nashville, Utah, NY Islanders teams with interest in Maxim Shabanov

[MMC]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843368467220799584

Click to read more...

 

[EXTRAS]

Can he void his KHL contract this year or is this for next season?

 

[Brodeur]

Obligatory reminder that it will be a 1 year (two way) ELC if/when he signs this spring. Contract length is predefined by the CBA based on age.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Is he good? Should I care? Legit first time hearing the name.

 

[SEALBound]

I might need additional scouting reports here but my first instinct is - but why?

Maxim Shabanov - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Maxim Shabanov, 2000-10-07 Chelyabinsk, RUS Russia. Most recently in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

24yo, 5'8, 157lbs with okay KHL numbers.

Doesn't exactly scream NHL regular to me.

 

[Rich Nixon]

I might need additional scouting reports here but my first instinct is - but why?

Maxim Shabanov - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Maxim Shabanov, 2000-10-07 Chelyabinsk, RUS Russia. Most recently in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

24yo, 5'8, 157lbs with okay KHL numbers.

Doesn't exactly scream NHL regular to me.

By KHL scoring standards, his numbers are very good and so far this season he's over a PPG/top 5 in scoring.

 

[joestevens29]

I might need additional scouting reports here but my first instinct is - but why?

Maxim Shabanov - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Maxim Shabanov, 2000-10-07 Chelyabinsk, RUS Russia. Most recently in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

24yo, 5'8, 157lbs with okay KHL numbers.

Doesn't exactly scream NHL regular to me.

Propped up by Rangers legend Kravtsov

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Next breadman


Bagelman

 

[Forsbergaura21]

So can he sign in the nhl for this season?

 

[SEALBound]

By KHL scoring standards, his numbers are very good and so far this season he's over a PPG/top 5 in scoring.

Nicolas Petan has the same number of points in one less game, for context's sake.

Petan potted a whopping 7g and 35pt in 170 NHL games. Just so we're clear.

 

[MMC]

Nicolas Petan has the same number of points in one less game, for context's sake.

Petan potted a whopping 7g and 35pt in 170 NHL games. Just so we're clear.

5 and a half years older though

 

[SEALBound]

5 and a half years older though

So? If he was 18-20, sure. 24? Less of a "benefit of the doubt"

 

[MMC]

So? If he was 18-20, sure. 24? Less of a "benefit of the doubt"

The KHL is a pretty tough league, saying someone has to be 20 or under to be encouraged by their production there is pretty harsh. Obviously teams see something here

 

[Brodeur]

So can he sign in the nhl for this season?

Unless he terminates his KHL deal, it'd be for 2025-26.

I might need additional scouting reports here but my first instinct is - but why?

Low risk, he'd have to sign a 1 year ELC. If he didn't pan out, it wouldn't really set the signing team back. Ie recent guys like Mikko Lehtonen or Anton Levtchi came and went. Not every guy is going to be a Panarin/Kuzmenko.

With undrafted free agents, it feels like there can be some misplaced expectations if there are multiple teams interested. Brian Burke termed it the free wallet. My analogy is if there was a new pizza place giving away free slices; Just because there's a long line doesn't necessarily mean that the pizza is great.

 

[Forsbergaura21]

The KHL is a pretty tough league, saying someone has to be 20 or under to be encouraged by their production there is pretty harsh. Obviously teams see something here

That’s correct. I believe Panarin was 23 when he transitioned to NHL. Putting up a point per game or more in KHL at 24 is not bad at all…

 

[SEALBound]

The KHL is a pretty tough league, saying someone has to be 20 or under to be encouraged by their production there is pretty harsh. Obviously teams see something here

I mean, I get that. Mikhail Ilyin ran 0.5ppg as a 18yo and I was super stoked for that. But he's also 6'0, 180lbs, and 18yo.

This seems like looking at overage in the WHL or OHL that potted 90+ as a 22yo.

Not dogging the guy, I'm just saying, I don't get what the attraction is there. Does he have Kane/Datsyuk hands, McDavid speed, Lundqvist's good looks, BizNasty's podcast skills? Just wanted more info.

 

[On The Prowl]

Havent seem him play, at that size he better be an amazing skater.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Nicolas Petan has the same number of points in one less game, for context's sake.

Petan potted a whopping 7g and 35pt in 170 NHL games. Just so we're clear.

And? The KHL is a tough and weird league. Fringe NHLers often produce well over there. Because fringe NHLers are some of the best players in the world who...aren't currently in the NHL. So if a player is producing better than those guys, there's a chance that they themselves could be a fringe NHLer...or even an NHL regular!

Hence the reported interest.

 

[A1LeafNation]

5'8 157lbs....leaves thread.

 

[SEALBound]

And? The KHL is a tough and weird league. Fringe NHLers often produce well over there. Because fringe NHLers are some of the best players in the world who...aren't currently in the NHL. So if a player is producing better than those guys, there's a chance that they themselves could be a fringe NHLer...or even an NHL regular!

Hence the reported interest.

But I mean, he's not outproducing a fringe NHL'er...that was my point. He's got the same pts at Petan in 1 more game. Petan was a long-time NHL fringe player. I mean, I guess a guy can come over at 24yo+ and make it but also at 5'8 157lbs, I wince and question how likely it is.

To the point of - why bother?

Any of those teams could have claimed Lavoie, Poulin, Suzuki, ZAR, or Adam Gaudette and got a player with just as much impact.

 

[mouser]

Unless he terminates his KHL deal, it'd be for 2025-26.

And the earliest he could sign for 2025-26 is March 1st 2025.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Nicolas Petan has the same number of points in one less game, for context's sake.

Petan potted a whopping 7g and 35pt in 170 NHL games. Just so we're clear.

It’s always strange to me how NHL teams view players overseas. Nigel Dawes never sniffed the NHL again despite being one of the KHLs most productive goal scorers of all time. I feel like some of the mystery of a player is more appealing than the actual results.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I feel like Toronto is used to get attention in this, it might be between 1-2 teams and then this might attract another 1-2.

I think contract is pre-determined but maybe he has some locations he prefers over others.

 

[jackjohnson]

5'8 157lbs....leaves thread.

Damn even my 12 year old brother weighs more than that and he is 5'4 and not even fat

 

[jackjohnson]

It’s always strange to me how NHL teams view players overseas. Nigel Dawes never sniffed the NHL again despite being one of the KHLs most productive goal scorers of all time. I feel like some of the mystery of a player is more appealing than the actual results.

He is a bust. 24 years old and too small with pretty average stats. Toronto could have him