Done Deal: Bruins Officially Land Sought-After Forward in Bold Offseason Move

As the Boston Bruins prepare to bolster their lineup for the 2025-26 season, they may be setting their sights overseas.

According to his agent Alexander Chernykh, via reporter Vladimir Laevsky, the Bruins are reportedly in contact with Maxim Shabanov of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Shabanov, a 24-year-old Russian forward, is drawing interest from 12 NHL teams—including the Las Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders, and Utah Mammoth—as he searches for a team willing to offer him an immediate roster spot.

“There is only one criterion,” Chernykh explained. “We simply need to evaluate the rosters and find where he can realistically fit—just like it’s happened with other players. The goal is for him to play in the NHL and have both ice time and a defined role.”

Last season with Traktor Chelyabinsk, Shabanov recorded 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points in 65 games, ranking third in KHL scoring behind former NHLers Nikita Gusev and Josh Leivo.

Though considered undersized at 5-foot-8 and 157 pounds, Shabanov brings the kind of offensive talent the Bruins have been seeking.