Shipachyov situation resolved, source says

Centerman will retire from NHL, return to Russia, play in KHL

KANATA, Ontario — The Vadim Shipachyov situation appears to have a final resolution.

A source with knowledge of the situation said Saturday a tentative agreement has been worked out that will allow Shipachyov to retire from the NHL and play in Russia in the Kontinental Hockey League.

The paperwork probably will be completed by Monday.

The center, 30, played three games with the Knights and scored one goal. He returned to Russia on Thursday while negotiations took place between the Knights, the NHL, the NHL Players Association and Shipachyov’s agent, Petr Svoboda.

Shipachyov was suspended without pay for a week after leaving the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League without permission following his reassignment Oct. 24 to the Wolves.

Shipachov will return virtually all of his $2 million signing bonus. The Knights will retain his NHL rights for the next five years. He will be eligible

to play immediately in the KHL, most likely with his previous team, SKA St. Petersburg.

The Knights had no comment.

Off to Europe

The Senators left for Sweden after Saturday’s game to play the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and Saturday at Ericsson Globe in Stockholm. The games, called the NHL Global Series, will count in the standings.

The trip will be a homecoming for Ottawa defensemen Erik Karlsson, who is from Landsbro, and Johnny Oduya and Fredrik Claesson, who are from Stockholm.

This and that …

Forward Brendan Leipsic and defensemen Jon Merrill and Brad Hunt were the Knights’ healthy scratches Saturday. … The Knights and Senators won’t meet again until March 2 at T-Mobile Arena. … The Knights will practice Sunday afternoon in Etobicoke, a western district of Toronto, at the Maple Leafs’ facility, Mastercard Centre, to prepare for Monday’s game against the Leafs at Air Canada Centre.