Vadim Shipachyov has returned to his old stomping grounds.

The Russian forward has signed a one-year contract with St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL, where he spent the previous four seasons prior to joining the Vegas Golden Knights.

Shipachyov, 30, retired from the NHL on Thursday, closing the door on his short stint in North America. The move allowed the Golden Knights to avoid exposing him to waivers and risk losing him to another NHL club.

It also means his two-year, $9-million contract is removed from the team's salary cap, minus a portion of his $2-million signing bonus. Vegas retains Shipachyov's NHL rights until age 35.

Shipachyov's time in the NHL came to a close after his refusal to suit up for the Golden Knights' minor-league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.

In all, Shipachyov appeared in three games with the Golden Knights, potting one goal. He collected 76 points in 50 games with St. Petersburg last season.

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