As the Boston Bruins begin shaping their roster for the 2025-26 season, they may be turning to international talent for reinforcements.
According to agent Alexander Chernykh, the Bruins are among several NHL teams that have shown interest in Maxim Shabanov, a standout forward from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), as first reported by Vladimir Laevsky.
Shabanov is reportedly in discussions with 12 NHL teams, including the Las Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders, and Utah Mammoth. The 24-year-old Russian winger is seeking a team that can offer him an immediate spot on the NHL roster.
“There’s only one condition,” Chernykh explained (translated to English). “We just need to review team lineups and determine where he truly fits — where he’ll step in and play right away in the NHL.”
Maxim Shabanov
Shabanov had a strong season with Traktor Chelyabinsk, tallying 23 goals and 44 assists for a total of 67 points in 65 games. That performance placed him third in league scoring, just behind ex-NHLers Nikita Gusev and Josh Leivo.
Though he’s considered undersized at 5-foot-8 and 157 pounds, Shabanov brings the type of offensive spark that teams like Boston could benefit from.
Among the suitors, the Islanders appear to have the inside track. “They left a good impression on him this season,” Chernykh said. “So we’ll first evaluate the offer from the team he played for, then weigh all other options.”