Maxim Shalunov rejects NHL offer; he can't be serious
The drama surrounding KHL forward Maxim Shalunov will likely last another year, and at this point, I doubt he'll ever play in the NHL.
According to Chicago Blackhawks insider Scott Powers, the long-time NHL prospect has signed a three-year contract with Hockey Club Lokomotiv, also known as Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. This means Shalunov will not be joining the NHL this season, despite many expecting him to join the Chicago Blackhawks, who drafted him in the 4th round (109th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Although Shalunov's contract allows him to break it if he receives an NHL offer next year, the likelihood of him ever playing in the NHL is dwindling as he approaches his 29th birthday. To make matters more complicated, Shalunov appears unwilling to play for any NHL team, which is understandable given his extensive KHL career with CSKA Moscow, one of the league's premier organisations.
He said Shalunov had received at least one NHL offer to play in the 2021-2022 season, but that he was not interested in playing for the team that made the offer. It's impossible to predict Shalunov's chances of making an NHL debut without knowing how many teams he'd be willing to play for.
The Blackhawks reportedly did not have the roster or salary cap space to make Shalunov an offer this offseason.
In 52 games for CSKA, the 28-year-old winger had 18 goals, 17 assists, and a plus-minus rating of +20.
