There’s no chance of Maxim Shalunov joining the Blackhawks for the 2017 playoffs because his KHL team won’t release him from his expiring contract, reports The Athletic’s Scott Powers.
That means Shalunov won’t be joining the Blackhawks until at least next season, and possibly even longer. There was hope that Sibir Novosibirsk would release Shalunov, an upcoming restricted free agent in the KHL, from his current contract, which expires April 30, but they’re refusing to do so and will trade him to CSKA or SKA soon.
Shalunov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, told Powers that the contract situation will prevent the forward from signing in the NHL for at least four months.