Maxim Shabanov has a real shot to skate beside Kirill Kaprizov, but the Wild would be asking a lot if they expected him to step in and duplicate Mats Zuccarello right away. The better way to look at it is this: Shabanov might give Minnesota a different kind of top-line partner, one with more speed and more solo puck-carrying ability, even if the full package doesn’t match what Zuccarello brought.
That’s a high bar, because Zuccarello’s production last season was no small thing. He finished with 15 goals and 39 assists in 59 games, which put him at 54 points even after missing time.
Stretch that over a full 82-game season and it works out to roughly a 75-point pace. For a winger playing off Kaprizov, that’s elite support.
And it wasn’t just the numbers. Zuccarello’s patience with the puck, his passing touch and his knack for finding Kaprizov in dangerous spots made him a key offensive link for Minnesota.
Shabanov comes in with a very different game. The 25-year-old signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Wild after producing in the KHL, and Minnesota clearly sees more than a depth piece here.
He’s a skilled, fast winger who can push the puck through the neutral zone, challenge defenders off the rush and create chances with quick hands. One stat jumps out: 66 percent of Shabanov’s zone entries were controlled entries, which is a strong sign for a player trying to translate his game to the NHL’s quicker, heavier environment.
That skill set matters next to Kaprizov. Opponents already load up on Minnesota’s star whenever he gets the puck, and a linemate who can bring the puck in himself and force defenders to choose their poison could open things up. Shabanov doesn’t need to be Zuccarello on day one if he can make teams worry about a second puck carrier on that line.
There’s a fit argument here, too. Zuccarello made his living as a deliberate, crafty distributor who could slow things down and pick apart seams.
Shabanov looks more like a pace-and-transition player, someone who wants to attack while the play is moving. Minnesota wants to play faster at five-on-five, and Shabanov could help make a Kaprizov line tougher to contain in open ice.
But the gap between KHL success and Zuccarello-level NHL production is still huge. Zuccarello spent years learning NHL defensive structures, working the power play and understanding exactly when to defer to Kaprizov and when to shoot. That sort of feel is a big part of why the partnership worked for so long.
The power play is where the comparison gets even tougher. Zuccarello handled top-unit passing duties and was comfortable operating under pressure on the half wall.
His 39 assists last season showed how much playmaking responsibility he carried in the Wild attack. Shabanov has the hands and vision to help there eventually, but Minnesota can’t assume he’ll walk into Zuccarello’s spot and make the same reads against NHL penalty kills.
The most sensible expectation is that Shabanov adds to Kaprizov rather than replaces Zuccarello point for point. If he earns top-line time, the Wild should care less about whether he hits a 75-point pace and more about whether that line tilts the ice, creates transition chances and gives Kaprizov another reliable threat.
A 45- to 55-point season is a realistic target if the opportunity, power-play time and chemistry come together. If he goes beyond that, he’d be one of the league’s best value signings.
But matching Zuccarello’s complete offensive impact right away is a tall order. The safer bet is that Shabanov brings speed and puck skill to the top line, and Minnesota finds out over time whether that can grow into the same kind of trusted partnership Kaprizov had with Zuccarello.
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Oilers Fans Are About To Feel How Different This Roster Looks
Calvin Pickards arrival gives the Wild another experienced option in goal after a busy offseason reshaped the Oilers depth chart in a few notable ways. Edmontons roster has a different look heading into the new season, with departures coming through trades, free agency and players simply moving on to new situations, and Pickard is one of the names now tied to Minnesota as it tries to reinforce its crease.
For the Wild, the interest is not just in where Pickard landed, but in how he fits into a team looking for reliable minutes and veteran stability behind its top options. Edmonton, meanwhile, has already moved on from several familiar pieces, including Darnell Nurse going to San Jose and Jack Roslovic signing in Toronto, leaving the Oilers with plenty of change to absorb and making this one of those offseasons that could look very different once the games start. [Read more 🡒]