With Canada Day and July 4 behind us it’s time for NHL teams to get back to business. Kris Russell is still without a new home, Shane Doan has yet to re-sign with the Coyotes, and a Russian UFA continues to draw a lot of interest.

Keep it here for a roundup of the latest NHL whispers and conjecture.

Panthers in on Shipachyov

While the window is closing on the Buffalo Sabres’ opportunity to strike a deal with coveted 23-year-old unrestricted free agent Jimmy Vesey, there is another highly sought after talent on the market with no NHL experience.

Vadim Shipachyov raised some eyebrows when he led the 2016 IIHF World Championship tournament in scoring with six goals and 18 points in 10 games. The Florida Panthers reportedly have their eyes set on the 29-year-old Russian.

The Panthers have been one of the busiest teams so far this summer, signing defencemen Keith Yandle and Jason Demers and extending some key young pieces in Aaron Ekblad, Reilly Smith, and Vincent Trocheck. Landing Shipachyov would be another step in the right direction for the Panthers, who are aggressively gearing up for a run at the Stanley Cup.

Shipachyov led his KHL club St. Petersburg SKA in scoring in 2015-16, totalling 17 goals and 60 points in 54 games. He remains under contract with SKA, but his status is certainly worth monitoring through the next few weeks.