Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Wani tsoho na dogon lokaci tare da kulob din garinsa Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, Shafranov ya rubuta ta St.
Zaɓin shiga na NHL na 1996. Ya yi tasiri nan da nan a Arewacin Amurka, inda ya zira kwallaye 46 tare da Fort Wayne Komets na International Hockey League, ya sami kansa taken rookie na shekara da kuma wuri a kan IHL na biyu All-Star Team. A kakar wasa ta gaba, ya fara buga wasan NHL tare da Blues, inda ya zira kwallaye biyu kuma ya kara taimakawa a wasanni 5. Duk da haka duk don aikinsa na NHL; ya yi wasa a wasu 'yan lokuta a cikin Ƙungiyar Hockey ta Amurka da IHL, amma bai sake samun irin wannan tasiri ba kamar yadda ya yi a kakar wasa ta farko tare da Fort Wayne, wanda ya sa ya koma Turai, inda mafi girma kankara da kuma karin bude wasa ya dace da salon wasan kwallon kafa.