Vegas Golden Knights Suspend Vadim Shipachyov
The Vegas Golden Knights suspend their biggest offseason acquisition for not reporting to the Chicago Wolves.
This Vadim Shipachyov saga is taking a turn for the worst. Let’s start from the beginning, Shipachyov did not make the Vegas Golden Knights out of camp. Many players on the camp roster outplayed the KHL superstar which kind of ticked off the Shpachyov camp.
When the 30-year old got assigned to the AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves after training camp, he did not report or play in any games. However, due to the injuries to Jonathan Marchessault and Erik Haula, the team decided to callup Shipachyov. Golden Knights fans were very excited to see him up with the big club but only for a short time.
Shipachyov scored in his very first NHL game against the Boston Bruins, and it just so happened to be the game-winning goal. But the Russian born prospect struggled mightily to generate any offense after that. And let’s be fair, it’s hard to transition from the KHL to NHL style of play.
First of all, the KHL ice is much larger than the standard sized NHL ice. European players thrive with more space on the ice to make plays. NHL defensemen and goaltenders are far more advanced in North America than they are in KHL. These key differences could be a huge reason why Shipachyov is struggling out of the gate.
When Haula returned from injury, general manager George McPhee decided the best way for Shipachyov to translate his game to North America was to go to the AHL. Players were still outperforming the ineffective Shipachyov and McPhee didn’t want to take the chance in ruining team chemistry after the Golden Knights hot start.
Heres where things start to get really sour. Vegas decided to seek out a trade for Shipachyov, and they’ve yet to find a trade partner. McPhee is behind the eight ball since Shipachyov’s trade value is so low at this time. And let’s remember he has a cap hit of 4.5 million dollars.
At first, Shipachyov agreed to the assignment and reported to Chicago Wolves practice. Here’s where things have taken a turn for the worst. He practiced with the Wolves, but he then left to go back home without an okay from the team. Then, of course, the suspension came down, and he’ll also get no pay from the NHL’s 31st franchise.
This is the worst possible news for Golden Knights fans. Not only do you have a disgruntled player that’s not getting what he wants but the hockey club is likely going to trade him for next to nothing. You can’t blame the Golden Knights because the player just hasn’t done enough to earn a roster spot and this team is firing on all cylinders.
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Finally, we’re reaching the end of this long drawn out saga. The Vegas Golden Knights are a much better team without Vadim Shipachyov in their lineup, and I’m glad they’re moving on without him. I think it’s best just to trade him and get him out of the fold before it starts to infect the dressing room.