The sprint to have Vadim Shipachyov put pen to an NHL contract could be all for naught.

The high-volume scorer may have to satisfy the existing option on his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg and report for one more season before being permitted to sign with an NHL club, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

There was speculation the Montreal Canadiens were - if not closing in on an agreement - pushing hard toward a pact with Shipachyov before Friedman's report.

On the heels of a 60-point season, the most productive of his eight-year KHL career, the 29-year-old led the World Championship in scoring with six goals and 12 assists in 10 games.

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