There was a surprise visitor at yesterday's practice:
In a corresponding move, Erik Haula was placed on injured reserve, presumably because of this hit:
Shipachyov is expected to suit up for his first NHL game today against the Bruins.
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However, Finnish journalist
Antti Mäkinen, who has covered Shipachyov and the KHL for years for Viasat, foresees many obstacles for the Russian star in Las Vegas.
First, he believes that Shipachyov must overcome the embarrassment from starting the season in the AHL:
He used to be a big-time player, a rock star in St. Petersburg.
He thought, and everybody thought, that he would be the first or second centerman on the Golden Knights. But he didn't even get a roster spot here. For a Russian player in particular, that's an incredible embarrassment. There are expectations for those guys, when they're coming over, to get a roster spot. When they don't, the embarrassment is there.
And if you have problems with the language -- and you didn't get the place that you expected -- the embarrassment comes into the picture. It's a hard thing for a Russian player to beat this embarrassment. First and foremost, he needs to overcome these emotions.
Alexander Radulov came to Montreal. He had the pride, he knew that he was good enough. He showed the whole hockey world what kind of player he is. Vadim tried to do the same thing. But he failed. And now, he's battling with himself, thinking, "What are the people thinking about me?"
It's not about Vegas. It's about who are you, an NHL player or a KHL player?
The easiest way becomes to go back home.
Russian media is also an influencer. Instead of actively supporting Shipachyov's quest to conquer the NHL, they adopt a more nationalist posture:
Russian media, they are saying to Shipachyov, if you still played in St. Petersburg, you'd be winning 20 games in a row. You should come back here because it would be fun once again.
All the messages that he's getting from Russia , Come back, come back, come back.
Ultimately, and with full respect to the Russian's immense skills, Mäkinen doesn't see the fit between Shipachyov and Vegas:
You have Gerard Gallant here as a coach. At its best, Vegas is a gritty, fast team. Playing with four lines. Go up and down for 60 minutes.
Vadim Shipachyov doesn't represent that kind of hockey. He's a hockey artist with the puck.
He's an excellent player, but the surroundings around him are not ideal.
Now he can see the team playing, he can see the team winning games and scoring goals. [I imagine] he's thinking, What am I doing here? I can't help the team. I'm a different kind of player.
Artemi Panarin, he was ready. He didn't speak the language, but he was small, fast, and skillful.
Shipachyov needs open ice around him so he can pass the puck, make the plays. He's a different kind of player.
***
Last night, the Chicago Wolves feasted on the Ontario Reign 5-2 at home.
Teemu Pulkkinen contributed a goal and three assists, while Alex Tuch and Tomas Hyka added a goal apiece.
Oscar Dansk backed up Maxime Lagace, so it's not clear if he's coming up to Las Vegas today to take Marc-Andre Fleury's place. Fleury was knocked over by Anthony Mantha on Friday night.
UPDATE: This morning, Tuch and Maxime Lagace were called up to Vegas, while Jonathan Marchessault (lower body injury) and Fleury (concussion) were placed on injured reserve. Dansk was presumed to be ahead of Lagace on the depth chart, but apparently not. Welcome to the Malcolm Subban era!
Sarah Avampato was at Allstate Arena and shared these impressions about some of Chicago's Golden Knights prospects:
Hyka's been good -- quiet for most of the time, but when you notice him, he's making something happen...
Wong is very speedy, a "plays bigger than he is" sort of guy. Took a hit that popped his helmet off and kept going like nothing happened. Good on his skates, evading hits, skating out of trouble. Full of energy...
Speaking of Tyler Wong, Sarah caught up with him after the game. Wong has a goal in three games. He talks about the parent club's message to him when they sent him down, what he has to work on to succeed at the NHL level, and his passion for volunteerism.
HockeyBuzz: Hey Tyler, how's the adjustment to the AHL going?
Tyler Wong: I think it's been good. It's been a little bit of an adjustment, going from juniors to pro, bigger guys, you don't have as much time and space.
It's a big change too, going from being the go-to guy to a guy, you know you have to earn your stripes, earn your ice-time.
The coaches have been awesome with me. Working through things, watching video, being positive. It's easy to get down on yourself when you're a younger player. The older guys are great too.
HB: How does the AHL's level of play compare to the NHL pre-season's?
TW: It's a little different. There's a lot of guys, run around, try to take your head off. It's more physical here.
Up there, it was fun. Here too, gotta find a way to put up some points, make some plays.
HB: When Vegas send you down, what was their message to you?
TW: They were happy. Obviously, I had a good game [with a pre-season hat trick]. And I had two decent games after that. I flew under the radar a little bit there. They said just come down here and have a great year, develop, just keep improving.
HB: To take the next step, what do you feel like you need to work on?
TW: For me, I'm a point producer, I'm a guy who creates offensive opportunities. As every game goes on, keep creating more.
But also, developing a 200-foot game, you can't be just a one-dimensional player. That's the biggest thing for me. Gotta keep scoring goals, gotta keep making plays, but I gotta develop defensively as well. Not be a liability in my own zone. Be relied on for the penalty kill. Just be a more well-rounded player.
HB: I know volunteerism is a big part of your life. Now you're here in Chicago, have you got a chance to look at or think about where you might help out the community?
TW: Yeah, I've already talked to our public relations lady. We're going to head up some things here, hopefully get them started soon. That's something I really love to do, get in the community, make a difference. Us as hockey players, we've been given such an amazing platform to make a positive impact.
Lots of kids out there would give a lot to be in our shoes. It [helps] them to be able to go out and chat and hang out and joke around with them.
It keeps you grounded. It keeps your head on straight. It's easy for us to get caught up in being a pro hockey player, that cliche. It's important to not be selfish and give back and be a good role model.
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