Islanders’ Maxim Shabanov Seeking More NHL Ice Time; Trade Deadline Notes
Maxim Shabanov could become a trade piece for the New York Islanders ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. That and more ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
LOS ANGELES — Maxim Shabanov could become a trade piece for the New York Islanders ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Happy Free Friday.
I’m told the 25-year-old forward is open to a change of scenery in an effort to receive a larger opportunity at the NHL level — something that’s been hard to come by on Long Island.
Shabanov hasn’t played since Jan. 31, serving as one of the Islanders’ two extra forwards over the last eight games, a trend that is expected to continue as the team fights to remain in a playoff spot.
Through 40 games this season, he has four goals and 12 assists for 16 points while averaging 13:57 of ice time.
On July 2, the Islanders beat out the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Utah Mammoth for the KHL forward. It was a thorough process, with Shabanov ultimately choosing Long Island.
While the Islanders’ Russian base — Ilya Sorokin, Alexander Romanov, Maxim Tsyplakov, and Semyon Varlamov — helped make the organization appealing, there was also a clear path to a top-six opportunity under head coach Patrick Roy, who liked what he saw on Shabanov’s KHL film. It’s the same reason Tsyplakov signed the summer prior.
Despite getting opportunities early, it became clear that the 5-foot-9 forward would need time to adjust to the speed, skill, and physicality of the NHL game — as well as the structure Roy wanted him to play within.
Roy encouraged Shabanov to lean more into a north-south style rather than the east-west approach that can slow down rushes — something that can be common among players transitioning from the KHL.
Old habits die hard, as they say — just ask Tsyplakov, who, after being dealt to the New Jersey Devils for Ondrej Palat, found himself on waivers Thursday.
Unfortunately for Shabanov, Roy hasn’t had the luxury of giving the young forward an extended runway to develop while the Islanders push for a playoff spot.
It’s difficult to decipher how much the Islanders value Shabanov. He could end up staying.
Shabanov is waiver-exempt and playing in Bridgeport for the rest of the season could be good for him, but I doubt that’s something he’s interested in.
With the Islanders looking to add top-six talent ahead of Friday’s 3 PM ET deadline, Shabanov could be a piece included in a larger deal.
His $975,000 cap hit doesn’t move the needle financially, but he’s a young player with upside — a low-risk, high-reward skater who could appeal to teams willing to give him a bigger role.
The Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues are two teams that could make sense.
If Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche is able to land a player such as Jordan Kyrou or Robert Thomas — I’ll add in Brock Boeser, and I’ll explain why later — Shabanov is the type of asset that could be included in the package going the other way.
While the Islanders continue exploring ways to improve their roster ahead of the deadline, their recent play has only increased the urgency.
Before heading to California, the Islanders were riding a five-game winning streak. Yes, they found themselves down 2-0 in each of their three games following the Olympic break, but resilient efforts saw them come away victorious.
The vibes were immaculate until their first two games of the four-game road trip.
The Islanders dropped both ends of their back-to-back: a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks followed by a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
It was not inspiring hockey entering the deadline — a deadline in which Darche has been looking to “reward” his group. The belief remains that he still wants to do just that, since he was never looking for rentals in the first place. The goal has been to add a top-six forward who can help both now and in the future.
“It’s on us. We put ourselves in this position in order for Mathieu [Darche] to add and [losing] these last two games, it’s a wake-up call for us that we still have a lot of work to do,” Bo Horvat said. “We still have to be confident and play good hockey in order to make the playoffs. And we’ve got another big one coming up in San Jose.”
The losses were bad — there’s no sugarcoating it — but the Islanders remain tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins in points, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division because Pittsburgh has two games in hand.
However, the surging Columbus Blue Jackets have become a threat.
After three straight wins, Rick Bowness’ squad sits three points back of the Islanders with two games in hand.
Not only that, but Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell went out and acquired Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Vancouver retained nothing on the 29-year-old’s $5 million cap hit, a player who comes with a six-year, $36 million extension.
There’s no question that if the Islanders want to stay ahead of Columbus, they need to bolster their group.
Here are some notes ahead of the deadline:
The Islanders spoke with the Canucks about Garland on Tuesday, but Vancouver was unwilling to take salary back the other way — I believe they also asked for a first, which is wild.
Columbus became a major player over the last 24 hours before getting Garland, and Vancouver got what they wanted.
I heard the Islanders kicked tires on Brock Boeser, who is in year one of a seven-year, $7.25 million AAV deal with a full no-move clause.
Boeser valued term in free agency, something the Islanders were willing to offer, but he chose to return to Vancouver.
As of right now, a Boeser deal is incredibly unlikely for the same reason Garland was. And there’s no real info as to whether he’d waive for Long Island.
When it comes to St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, there’s a ton of noise — not just smoke —, but the ask is astronomical.
For either, the Islanders would need to part with critical pieces of the prospect pool — Kashawn Aitcheson/Danny Nelson and first-round picks, plus.
I was told by two sources on Thursday that the Islanders had a deal on the table for Kyrou, one that St. Louis likes/liked, but I’m sure there’s a handful of offers on the table.
It’s possible that neither of those two is moved, which raises the question of how long teams decide to wait before pivoting.
The Blues have had two scouts at each of the last two Islanders games.
I wondered about Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett, a player who would cost a first-round pick, a prospect, and a rostered player.
There’s also the Horvat/Travis Konecny relationship — second cousins.
The Islanders had their director of scouting, former Flyers advisor to hockey operations Ian Laperriere, in attendance.
While we’ve often asked about Semyon Varlamov’s status, we haven’t been told he’s done.
If Varlamov isn’t done, how does that impact David Rittich’s future?
Varlamov has one season left with a cap hit of $2.75 million.
Nashville seems to be cleaning house, and I’m told the Islanders have checked in on the former Tampa Bay Lightning captain over the last few days, after previously inquiring.
I don’t believe the Islanders want to move a first-round pick for an aging player; however, Stammer’s power-play ability could make him one of the few exceptions.
Stamkos is in Year 2 of a four-year deal worth $8M AAV with a full no-move.
From yesterday’s trade deadline piece:
I do wonder whether the Islanders are looking to upgrade their defense.
Carson Soucy has struggled somewhat in his role. I don’t think it would be a Soucy trade with Isaiah George recalled.
The whole point of acquiring Soucy was to take PK minutes away from Matthew Schaefer, a role George cannot fill at this point.
Islanders checked in earlier in the season on Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev.
I’m told that the inquiry came before the Ondrej Palat trade.
There were rumors earlier this season that Anthony Duclair was asked to waive his no-trade clause.
My understanding is that he may have been asked to waive for New Jersey before they ultimately sent Maxim Tsyplakov in the Palat deal.
I’m told Duclair has not been asked to waive since.
His recent insertion into the lineup over Shabanov on Sunday, when Jonathan Drouin missed a game, suggests the Islanders are not forcing him to waive, not going the Chris Drury route.
Alexander Romanov’s timeline has not changed, with his return still likely to be mid-playoffs.
Playoff game rosters must remain cap compliant, so the Islanders would need to fit his $6.25M cap hit.
Victor Eklund (2025 No. 16 overall pick) will be coming to North America for the 2026-27 season.
I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll be pushing for a roster spot. If not, he’ll be part of the final round of cuts.
One would think Islanders have had preliminary extension conversations with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee.
I would expect, if both are back, that they’d take team-friendly discounts, but that doesn’t have to be done now.
The question is more for Pageau. Could he get more on the open market than Kyle Palmieri’s two-year deal, worth $4.75 million annually?
Darche has said he is comfortable going through the deadline without extensions for both.
Darche is going sit by the phone and see if Armstrong or Philly calls. If not fine continue with plan A. Playoffs would be nice this year but not expected ! Another high pick and the kids starting to arrive next year is okay ✅ The off season might be better conditions to make a trade. Blues situation is turning into a messy soap opera, maybe Darche might be able to use as leverage at Deadline or off season.
Ohhhhh he can have it after Jonathan Drouin remarquable performance last night. Shabby will be reinserted. Drouin and DuClair have been nothing short of a disaster. It should end the Islanders era of reclamation projects!!!!! Build through the draft only acquire Blue Chip Talent outside your bangers and fighters. Let the two guys above enjoy the bus in Hamilton ON. AHL Next year. Bring on the kids!