Latest on Flyers’ interest in signing KHL free agent Maxim Shabanov

The Philadelphia Flyers have reportedly shown increased interest in signing young KHL star free agent winger Maxim Shabanov and are now considered one of the frontrunners to acquire his services. There were even reports of a finalized contract, but now that we have learned that those reports are not true.

Last Friday, through Russian media outlet Sport-Express — and minor other theories such as Matvei Michkov and Egor Zamula following Shabanov on Instagram — it sure looked like the Flyers landed their guy. It was all going to be finalized eventually, it seemed, but most people were assuming that it was a done deal, despite Flyers reporters saying to just wait and see with nothing actually completed.

A few days later on Tuesday, a report from RG Media confirmed that the highly skilled 24-year-old, 5-foot-8 winger has not signed with the Flyers, stating that the Friday report was “premature”.

Shabanov’s agent, Alexander Chernykh confirmed with RG Media that him and his agent are still in discussions with the interested NHL teams and even set out a timeline for when they will be making their decision.

“We’re still in the process of talking with teams,” Chernykh said. “Right now, we’re waiting for the Draft, because that’s when trades happen and team situations change. Then the free agency will open. We want to see how the league landscape looks. It’s not a fast process.”

 

Chernykh also represents New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov and often refers to that experience when discussing current negotiations.

“When we negotiated Tsyplakov’s contract, it was also a long process,” said Chernykh. “At first, we talked to one team, then a second, then the sixth, the seventh… Then the list of options narrowed, and we returned to speak with those teams again. It’ll be the same process for Shabanov.”
–Sergei Demidov, RG Media

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft takes place in Los Angeles on June 27 and 28, and of course free agency will be open on July 1.

Chernykh explains the thought process well enough. With so many teams potentially making deals and signings and the general open availability of competition in most divisions, it makes perfect sense to just wait and see what rosters could potentially look like after the several NHL general managers make their transactions.

Even when it comes to the Flyers, it makes sense. What if the Flyers draft highly regarded winger Porter Martone with the sixth overall pick? Add in Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, and Matvei Michkov already on the roster with years of commitment, and then looking at the long-term projection of this roster and Shabanov would at-best be a middle-six winger. That is of course if Shabanov believes he can be more than that at the NHL level, which some scouts have their doubts on that happening.

And that situation doesn’t even include the Flyers making room for another winger they may draft or sign, or hope to develop into a top-six player, such as Alex Bump.

Chernykh mentioned his client Tsyplakov, who signed with the Islanders on May 16, 2024. While it is going to be the same process, as the agent mentions, that went by much faster and more immediate than this drawn-out saga for Shabanov. Could it mean there are more NHL teams interested? Or maybe fewer teams interested, so they are not signing until a team might not get the winger they want, and then hand Shabanov a much better opportunity than he would get in Philadelphia, for example?

This careful decision appears to have the potential of stretching way past free agency and possibly for another month.

Shabanov scored 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games last season for Traktor Chelyabinsk, and was a finalist for the KHL’s Most Valuable Player award, the KHL Golden Stick.