Vadim Shipachyov to terminate Golden Knights’ contract and head back to Russia, per report

The news ends the month-long saga between Vegas and Russian forward Shipachyov.

The Vegas Golden Knights and forward Vadim Shipachyov have parted ways, as the 30-year-old has reportedly decided to terminate his contract with the NHL’s newest expansion team. According to Sportsnet reporter Eric Engels, Shipachyov will head back to Russia after playing just three games with the Golden Knights once they complete the unconditional waiver process.

Shipachyov and the Golden Knights have been on the rocks for awhile, so the news that the forward is headed back to play in Russia hardly comes as a surprise. Last week, Shipachyov was suspended from the organization after failing to show up for an AHL game in Chicago.

Instead, Shipachyov left Chicago with his family to head back to Las Vegas despite being reassigned to the AHL.

Shipachyov will leave the Golden Knights and the NHL with just one goal to his name in three games. However, his short tenure with Vegas will be marred by the Golden Knights’ handling of the situation. Shipachyov was the first big asset to be signed by Vegas before the franchise had drafted any players, as the 30-year-old forward was a 76-point player in his previous season in the KHL.

While not explicitly stated, Shipachyov was supposedly set to be a key piece of the Golden Knights offense in a season they were projected to struggle in. Instead, Shipachyov was placed in the AHL to start the year thanks to Vegas’ glut of defensemen clogging up a roster spot.

By the time Shipachyov was given time to prove himself on NHL ice, the relationship between both sides was seemingly on edge. While there were reports shot down that Shipachyov was unhappy with his demotion to the AHL, the Golden Knights gave him a chance to seek trade options just a few weeks later.

Shipachyov signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Golden Knights back in May, but will be on the books for just $522,177 when all is said and done.

However, the Shipachyov saga may have repercussions down the line for the Golden Knights. From our Vegas blog, Knights On Ice:

Now that this has been settled, one must wonder what this all means for Shipachyov's former-and-possible-future-teammate Nikita Gusev, whose rights are also the property of the Golden Knights. Surely he will get an earful from Shipachyov about how McPhee and the front office conduct business.

This train wreck could be felt within the organization for years yet to come.

The Golden Knights have had as hot of a start as a new expansion franchise as possible, as Vegas heads into its Monday night game with a record of 8-1-0. While Shipachyov did not factor into Vegas’ plans like they had hoped, the 30-year-old will now return to Russia with a chance to play in the upcoming Winter Olympics.