Maxim Shabanov (Credit: Chelyabinsk Traktor Hockey Club)
The Gagarin Cup was decided in overtime yesterday. What, you missed it? Don't even know what the Gagarin Cup is?
Well, it's the trophy awarded to the champion of the Kontinental Hockey League, or KHL, the top hockey league in Russia.
Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, who was the top team in the KHL all season and runner-up last year, defeated Chelyabinsk Traktor in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series 2-1 to win the series and it's first championship 4 games-to-1.
I bring this up because with the conclusion of the KHL season, there's going to be a lot of talk and discussion about Russian players as we approach the draft next month.
And then there's Maxim Shabanov.
Shabanov, 24, was the leading scorer on Traktor this season with 67 points in 65 games played. He finished third in the KHL in scoring and second in the league in assists, with 44.
He also added 20 points (10 goals and 10 assists) in 22 playoff games for Traktor.
He is also a finalist for the MVP award in the KHL.
Josh Leivo, Maxim Shabanov and Artyom Galimov are nominees for 'The Golden Stick' — 2024-25 KHL Regular Season MVP Award.#KHLAwards pic.twitter.com/dzEGlmlpVO
Oh, and did I mention he was an undrafted free agent who now has to make a decision - stay in the KHL or come to the NHL?
And here's another little detail - if he chooses the NHL, it seems like the Flyers are one of of his favorite possibilities.
Several teams have expressed interest in Shabanov over the course of the the past season, and while Shabanov's representatives denied a rumor in February that the Flyers were one of the teams interested in his services, things are different now.
While there are many teams who have checked in on Shabanov's interest in coming to the NHL, multiple league sources have told me that Shabanov is weighing a decision that really comes down to three options:
"We're hearing the same thing," one Flyers hockey operations source said to me. "At this point, its up to the player."
So, who is this Shabanov guy, anyway?
Shabanov is a dynamic, Russian forward known for his exceptional speed, creativity, and offensive prowess.
Me: I've seen everything in hockey, nothing surprises me anymore
Max Shabanov: pic.twitter.com/6eKlphfXNs
Traktor is his hometown team and although he went undrafted, he's been a late bloomer in the KHL and over the past two seasons has developed into one of the most exciting young talents in top Russian league.
Shabanov progressed through the Traktor system. He made his KHL debut with Traktor in the 2021–2022 season, appearing in 11 games and registering one goal and one assist. His first signs of a breakout came in the 2022–2023 season, where he played 67 games, scoring 18 goals and adding 13 assists for 31 points.
He continued his upward trajectory in the 2023–2024 season, amassing 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 64 games, emerging as the team’s top scorer.
Then came this past season, and he flourished with NHL scouts in Russia having him consistently on their radar.
The one thing that has always held Shabanov back is that he is small. Just 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, there's always been concern that he'd be swallowed up in the NHL.
Notable KHL free agent, Max Shabanov, has been neutralized in the KHL Final, playing against one of the most physically imposing teams in the league (with several former NHLers, such as Alex Radulov). No doubt he'll get an NHL contract, but size has always been the concern.
But, he leverages his agility and vision to outmaneuver larger opponents, with a low center of gravity enhancing his balance and agility. His elite skating mechanics and speed, combined with a fantastic release, make him a bit of a wizard with the puck.
Maxim Shabanov (undrafted KHL free agent) does fun things.
pic.twitter.com/zs5f9xqTZ3
Shabanov's impressive performances have attracted targeted attention from several NHL teams. Previous reports indicated that the New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Utah Hockey Club had shown serious interest in the KHL forward.
But now it seems like it could down to the Flyers and Vegas - if Shabanov decides to come to North America.
One league source said another team can always swoop into the conversation at the last minute, but said that the Golden Knights and the Flyers have structures in place that are appealing to Shabonov both on and off the ice..
The league source also indicated that he would fit nicely on the Flyers and that the organization has done a great job in a short period of time under the current management at creating a pipeline to Russian players. Shabanov is also represented by the same agency that represents Flyers goalie prospect Yegor Zavragin. He also played, albeit briefly, with current Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula when they were on Chelyabinsk's U16 team.
Oh, and there's also the prospect of playing with Matvei Michkov, so...
Now that the Gagarin Cup is over, Shabanov is expected to make a decision regarding his future rather quickly, so we could hear something soon - and while nothing is guaranteed, if it happens to be that he ends up with the Flyers, now that you've read this, you won't be surprised.
