When Mathieu Darche was named general manager of the New York Islanders, he emphasized that improving Bridgeport, the team’s AHL affiliate, would be a priority.

They inked restricted free agent Emil Heineman to a two-year deal that came in at $1.1 million per year, according to a source. Then they signed Russian free agent Maxim Shabanov to a one-year deal at $975,000, per sources, landing the top European free agent for the second straight summer after signing Maxim Tsyplakov a year ago.

Maxim Shabanov, a 24-year-old Russian forward, is gaining attention following his signing with the New York Islanders. The former Traktor Chelyabinsk player is making the leap from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to the National Hockey League (NHL),