Maxim Tsyplakov Likely To Crack Islanders Roster
Since the start of the week, the New York Islanders have been fairly quiet in free agency, as their only notable moves were re-signing defenseman Mike Reilly and poaching forward Anthony Duclair from the free agent market. As one of only 11 teams in the 2023-24 NHL season to average under three goals per game, the Islanders were expected to pursue goal-scoring this summer. One of the team’s most peculiar moves in addressing this dilemma happened in May as the team signed winger Maxim Tsyplakov from Spartak Moskva.
In an article from Stefen Rosner and Matthew Page of The Hockey News, the future of Tsyplakov was brought up to general manager Lou Lamoriello at the 2024 NHL Draft and he said, “We did not sign him for Bridgeport. He’s an NHL-type of player“. Given the transition between playing in the KHL and the NHL, it is more than likely that Tsyplakov will start the year on the Islanders’ third line with the ability to move up to the second line if his play warrants it.
If all goes as expected in New York, Tsyplakov will become the strong secondary scorer that the Islanders have desperately craved over the past several seasons. Tsyplakov scored 31 goals and 47 points for Spartak this past season in 65 games. In the playoffs, Tsyplakov did not perform up to his standards from the regular season as he collected two goals and four points in 11 games while tallying 14 PIMs.
As he transitions to life in North America, it may be prudent for the Islanders to start Tsyplakov on the third line next to Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom. With Pierre Engvall and Anders Lee destined for middle-six roles this upcoming season, New York could have a flexible roster that could change in each game.
Islanders Sign Maxim Tsyplakov To Entry-Level Contract
May 17, 7:48 a.m.: It’s actually the maximum $950K entry-level cap hit for Tsyplakov, per CapFriendly. He’ll earn a base salary of $885K and a $95K signing bonus, plus up to $1MM in potential performance bonuses. If assigned to the minors, he’ll earn an $82.5K salary.
May 16, 2:07 p.m.: Tsyplakov’s deal will carry a $925K cap hit, Sears reports.
May 16, 1:50 p.m.: This summer’s top international free agent is off the board early. The Islanders will be Maxim Tsyplakov‘s NHL home next season, announcing Thursday that they’ve signed him to a one-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Tspylakov, 25, was drawing interest from the majority of the league. However, the Islanders weren’t one of the teams specifically linked to the Russian forward. As recently as this week, it was expected the Canadiens would make a strong pitch for his services. The Maple Leafs were also connected to Tsyplakov during the season.
It doesn’t appear to be a rushed or out-of-left-field signing, though. Islanders European scout Jim Paliafito has been talking to Tsypalakov’s camp as far back as February, reports Ethan Sears of the New York Post. Sears adds the Islanders weren’t the only New York team with interest – the Rangers were also in talks with Tsyplakov as well as Montreal and Toronto.
The 6’3″ winger has spent parts of seven seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League with Spartak Moscow but was an extremely late bloomer. Tsyplakov, a Moscow native, didn’t even lock down a top-six role until this season.
It was a defining campaign for Tsyplakov, though, one that made him the top international UFA on the market with months to go in the season. The gifted sniper served as an alternate captain for Spartak and scored 31 goals in 65 games, ranking fourth in the KHL in goals and second on his team behind former Canucks and Sharks winger Nikolay Goldobin.
As he’s such a late bloomer, though, there will be rightful concerns about how well his offense can translate to North America, especially with no previous experience on this side of the Pacific. His season ended somewhat unceremoniously as well, limited to two goals and two assists in 11 postseason games as Spartak was dispatched by eventual champion Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the second round of the Gagarin Cup Playoffs.
Tsyplakov had also only recorded double-digit goal totals in a KHL season once before, scoring 10 times in 63 games last season. The Islanders will hope his size helps translate his scoring success last season to the NHL somewhat, although he really shouldn’t be counted upon for more than 20-30 points next year if he makes the team out of camp.
With so much interest elsewhere, it’s hard to imagine Tsyplakov accepting an assignment to AHL Bridgeport if he doesn’t crack the opening night roster. In that event, expect him to end up on the trade block or on waivers for a mutual contract termination to head back to Russia or get a shot from another NHL team.
Tsyplakov’s signing continues an active offseason already for the Isles, who have scoured the international market. They picked up Swedish goalie Marcus Högberg to serve as improved depth behind Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov next season, and they’re also expected to bring over Swiss defenseman Andrea Glauser from the National League.
Montreal Canadiens Interested In Maxim Tsyplakov
On yesterday’s rendition of 32 Thoughts with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek, Friedman notes that the Montreal Canadiens have joined a growing list of teams looking to poach forward Maxim Tsyplakov out of the Kontinental Hockey Leauge. Unlike a majority of teams around the league, the Canadiens have a unique ability to offer Tsyplakov high-leverage opportunities if he were to join the organization.
Finishing off his seventh season in the KHL this past year, Tsyplakov has spent his entire professional career with Spartak Moskva. A quality depth-scorer throughout much of his tenure, Tsyplakov went through an offensive explosion this season, scoring 31 goals in 65 games, finishing fourth in the league in the category.
Not only did Tsyplakov show that he can be relied upon as a top-level offensive contributor in the KHL this season, but he was an extremely physical player as well. Because of these two attributes, several teams in the NHL have inquired about bringing him over to North America to continue his professional career.
However, there are a few reasons that may indicate Tsyplakov’s most recent season was an outlier, which may cast doubt on his overall talent ceiling at the NHL level. For one, Tsyplakov’s shooting percentage doubled compared to his career averages, jumping to 18% in the 2023-24 season after maintaining a 9% success rate in the previous six years. Furthermore, in the 2023-24 Gagarin Cup playoffs, Tsyplakov only managed two goals and four points in 11 games before his team was eliminated in Round 2 by the eventual Gagarin Cup Champions, the Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Nevertheless, given that he will be 26 years of age by the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, some teams may view this season as Tsyplakov entering his prime, which is something the Canadiens would most certainly be interested in. Finishing 26th in the league in GF/G this past season, Montreal would present Tsyplakov with an immediate opportunity on the second line at the NHL level.
Maple Leafs Among Many Teams Interested In Maxim Tsyplakov
Maxim Tsyplakov is having a career year in the KHL and saying he has caught the eye of some NHL teams would be putting it lightly. Tsyplakov’s agent Alexander Chernykh told The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke that at least a dozen NHL teams have expressed an interest in signing the winger for next season. He confirmed that the Maple Leafs are among those teams pursuing Tsyplakov.
The 25-year-old had a bounce-back season in 2022-23, picking up 25 points in 63 games with Spartak Moscow. However, Tsyplakov has found another gear this season, lighting the lamp 30 times already while chipping in with 15 assists in 58 contests while logging nearly 18 minutes a night. His goal total is tied for the third-highest in the KHL this season behind former NHLers Reid Boucher and Nikolay Goldobin.
Standing 6’3, Tsyplakov is also able to play with some physicality which would help him potentially fit in on a lower line to start next season as it’s rare that an undrafted free agent would jump into an NHL top six right away. Kloke notes that Toronto also discussed the possibility of trying to play Tsyplakov at center which would certainly increase his value if he’s able to do so consistently.
Tsyplakov is still subject to entry-level regulations so wherever he signs, it will be a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL salary worth less than $1MM. Considering the level of interest expressed so far, it stands to reason that he should be able to secure some performance bonuses which are capped as well. Most teams will make the same offer so it will be up to Tsyplakov to determine the best fit, especially since he’d be arbitration-eligible following next season.
Unlike pending NHL free agents, KHL contracts expire at the end of April so Tsyplakov will be eligible to sign at that time. With the interest he has already received, there’s a good chance it won’t take long for him to sign when the calendar turns to May.