New York Islanders Sign Maxim Shabanov and Draft Matthew Schaefer

The New York Islanders signed Russian forward Maxim Shabanov to a one‑year contract in the summer of 2025. The deal is expected to be worth around $15‑16 million per year, and the 24‑year‑old is projected to join Team Canada for the next Olympic Games if he remains injury‑free.

In the 2025 NHL Draft, the Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 overall pick. Schaefer posted a historic rookie campaign, earning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top first‑year player. He credited the Islanders’ veteran group and coaching staff for helping his smooth transition to the NHL and is already being mentioned as a future team captain.