Road trip, Shipachyov uncertainty highlight week ahead for Golden Knights

By Jesse Granger

Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 | 2 a.m.

The Golden Knights are off to the best start for an expansion team in NHL history, and they seem to be making as many headlines off the ice as they are on it. Here’s a look at the three biggest stories surrounding the team this week.

Knights hit the road

Following a three-week, seven-game home stand, the Golden Knights finally hit the road for only their second trip of the season. It starts in New York with back-to-back contests against the Islanders and Rangers, then heads to Boston before taking a tour of Canada.

Oct. 30 at New York Islanders, 4 p.m.

Oct. 31 at New York Rangers, 4 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Boston Bruins, 4 p.m.

Nov. 4 at Ottawa Senators, 11 a.m.

The Golden Knights will look to extend their hot 8-1-0 start in New York. Vegas is 2-0 on the road this season with wins in Dallas and Arizona, but the Islanders have yet to lose a game in regulation in Brooklyn (3-0-1), and the Rangers have played much better in Madison Square Garden than elsewhere (3-4-2).

“We’ve got some momentum and need to keep it going,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “It’s hard to win on the road, but we’ve got a talented group of guys who get along well and work hard.”

Where in the world is Vadim Shipachyov?

When the Golden Knights signed Russian center Vadim Shipachyov to a two-year contract worth $9 million this summer, he was seen as a potential first-line center.

Now, only three games into his NHL career, Shipachyov’s future with the Golden Knights may already be in danger.

Shipachyov was suspended by the team without pay Sunday morning after leaving the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. The 30-year-old was slated to play for the Wolves in Saturday night’s game, but left hours before the contest. Chicago Wolves coach Rocky Thompson said he wasn’t given an explanation for Shipachyov’s absence and wasn’t made aware until two hours before the game. The Golden Knights would not confirm Shipachyov's whereabouts after leaving Chicago.

The Russian star has been frustrated with demotion to the AHL for weeks, and general manager George McPhee told TSN Radio in Toronto that he gave Shipachyov’s agent permission to speak with other teams about a possible trade.

“I said I don’t mind,” McPhee said. “That’s where we are, and I’m not ruling anything in or out.”

According to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, if no trade is made by as early as today, the Golden Knights could be dealing with a contract termination, and Shipachyov could be returning to Russia.

Defensive musical chairs

Since the Golden Knights built their roster in June’s expansion draft, they’ve had a surplus of defenseman.

Because they have more NHL-quality defenders than roster spots, top prospect Shea Theodore has spent the season to this point in the AHL despite outplaying nearly everyone on the roster during the preseason. Because Theodore is waiver-exempt, he can be sent down without the risk of losing him in waivers.

That may change this week after the Golden Knights waived both Jason Garrison and Griffin Reinhart. Garrison had one assist in four games with Vegas while averaging 18:54 of ice time, and was assigned to the Chicago Wolves after clearing waivers. Reinhart never played with the Golden Knights, and was a healthy scratch during every game this season.

Those moves open up a roster spot. and Theodore is the best candidate. The 22-year-old had two goals and six assists for the Anaheim Ducks during last year’s playoffs, and has already racked up five goals and six assists in 11 games this year with the Wolves.

If Theodore does make the jump to Vegas, expect him to be an immediate contributor, especially on the power play.