The New York Islanders have become notorious for taking gambles.
Like any bet, some moves are low-risk, and others are high-risk. Fortunately for the Islanders, more have been the former, including one involving a player they’ll face Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild.
On July 2, 2025, the Islanders signed highly coveted KHL free agent Maxim Shabanov to a low-risk, one-year, $975,000 entry-level contract.
Despite getting opportunities in the top six, the 25-year-old’s inconsistent play and struggles to stay healthy made him a difficult player for the organization to rely on.
No one questioned his talent, but things simply weren’t working out on Long Island.
Ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, I was told that Shabanov’s camp approached the Islanders about his situation. While it wasn’t a formal trade request, his representatives made it clear that if he wasn’t going to receive more opportunities, he would prefer to play elsewhere.
The Islanders tried to find him a new home, but no one took him.
Shabanov finished his rookie season with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 44 games.
Despite his struggles, the Islanders weren’t ready to give up on him, even after electing not to tender the pending restricted free agent a qualifying offer.
The previous summer, fellow Russian forward Maxim Tsyplakov, another low-risk gamble, had filed for salary arbitration before the two sides agreed to a two-year contract.
After the qualifying-offer deadline passed, I was told the Islanders remained in discussions with Shabanov’s camp and even had an offer on the table to bring him back, believing his rookie season left some unanswered questions.
But Shabanov, who had changed representation, had to make a decision.