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Vegas Golden Knights: Revisiting the curious case of Vadim Shipachyov

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 15: Vadim Shipachyov #87 of the Vegas Golden Knights picks up a puck with his stick during warmups before the team's game against the Boston Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on October 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights won 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 15: Vadim Shipachyov #87 of the Vegas Golden Knights picks up a puck with his stick during warmups before the team's game against the Boston Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on October 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights won 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Vadim Shipachyov of the Dynamo Moscow looks on against the CSKA at the Arena VTB Moscow on January 8, 2020 in Moscow, Russia.
Vadim Shipachyov of the Dynamo Moscow looks on against the CSKA at the Arena VTB Moscow on January 8, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. /

Where is Shipachyov now?

While Vadim Shipachyov was back in Russia licking his wounds, the Golden Knights continued to make history after a stunning start to their NHL adventure.

Building momentum, Vegas never looked back and they made a jaw-dropping run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, losing to the Washington Capitals in five games.

And, Shipachyov’s mysterious meltdown acted as a secret blessing for the Golden Knights with William Karlsson emerging from the shadows to make the top line center role his own, finishing his first year in Vegas with a career-high 78 points (43 goals, 35 assists) in 82 games.

Thus, the legend of Wild Bill was born.

But what about Vadim Shipachyov?

Where is he now?

Well, after seeing his NHL dream collapse around him in stunning fashion, the center returned to his homeland in an attempt to resurrect both his career and his reputation.

Vadim Shipachyov of the Dynamo Moscow battles for the puck against of the CSKA Moscow at the Arena VTB Moscow on January 8, 2020 in Moscow, Russia.
Vadim Shipachyov of the Dynamo Moscow battles for the puck against of the CSKA Moscow at the Arena VTB Moscow on January 8, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. /

Recording 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 22 games for SKA St. Petersburg, Shipachyov has spent the last two years with Dynamo Moskva, enjoying great success.

Wearing the ‘C’ on his chest this year, Shipachyov put up 17 goals and 48 assists for 65 points in 61 games and was named to the KHL All-Star Game, while finishing with the most assists and the most points in Russia’s top league.

Currently on hiatus like the rest of the sporting world, the 33-year-old is a star in his homeland but his ill-fated stay in the NHL will forever act as a stain on his resume.

For the Vegas Golden Knights, there will be no regrets given that they hardly missed a beat in the wake of Shipachyov going AWOL, instead developing the ultimate Golden Misfit in William Karlsson into a franchise center while breaking record after record in the NHL as an expansion team.

They competed for the Stanley Cup in their inaugural year, while they were let off the hook from Shipachyov’s $9 million salary due to the fact that he retired from his NHL contract.

Next. Four players who may have played their last game for Vegas. dark

It is a strange tale that will forever live on in the rich history of this beloved sport of ours and, while both parties have moved on to great success, the Vegas Golden Knights and Vadim Shipachyov will forever be linked for all the wrong reasons.

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