Shabanov on Radulov: A Testament to Passion for Hockey at Any Age

The forward for the New York Islanders, **Maksim Shabanov**, who previously played for Chelyabinsk’s Traktor, addressed comparisons with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv forward **Alexander Radulov** ahead of the 2025 Gagarin Cup final.

**– Your post-match handshake with Alexander Radulov received a lot of attention, and there have been numerous analyses and stats contrasting the two of you. Has Radulov’s phenomenon been a key factor in this series?**
– We exchanged a few words, and I congratulated him on his win. He told me, «You have everything ahead of you!»

I’m not sure if we should even be compared. I’ve got a long way to go before reaching Radulov’s level. It’s remarkable to see someone at 38 years old still have such a passion for hockey. Sometimes, when you look at the younger generation, they don’t seem to share that same enthusiasm for the game as this remarkable guy does at his age. That deserves respect. That’s why he gives his all in every match, and you can’t question his dedication, – quoted Shabanov by «Kopeysk Worker.»

As a reminder, the 2025 Gagarin Cup final featured a matchup between Lokomotiv and Traktor. The Yaroslavl team secured the trophy by winning the series in five games, and Radulov was named the Most Valuable Player of the recent Gagarin Cup.