Flyers sign best KHL free agent forward available!
That’s one heck of a signing in Philly. Full details below:
The announcement is pending as it’s been reported that KHL free agent forward Maxim Shabanov will sign with the Philadelphia Flyers and play for the Black and Orange next season.
Shabanov is a 24-year-old Russian ice hockey forward, who formerly played for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Although, the parameters of a deal with Shabanov and the Flyers have not been finalized yet, all reports hint at the deal being official shortly.
The Flyers will now have 5 Russian players on their active and non active roster: Shabanov, Ivan Fedotov, Matvei Michkov, Nikita Grebenkin, and Egor Zamula, all under new head coach Rick Tocchet.
In the 2024-25 season, Shabanov was a standout, scoring 23 goals and 67 points in 65 regular-season games, ranking third in KHL scoring and second in assists (44). He added 10 goals and 20 points in 21 playoff games, though Traktor lost in the Gagarin Cup Final. He was a finalist for the KHL’s MVP award (“The Golden Stick”).
He is known for his elite skating, speed, puck-handling, and a quick release, despite being undersized at 5’8” and 157-170 pounds. But he has quite the hockey IQ.
As a free agent, it got interest from not only the Flyers but also Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning.
This is a developing story.
