Islanders sign top Euro UFA Maxim Tsyplakov to one-year contract

The New York Islanders have announced that they have signed top European free agent Maxim Tsyplakov to a one-year, entry-level contract.

Tsyplakov spent the 2023-24 campaign in Russia’s KHL with Moscow Spartak where he tallied 31 goals and 16 assists for 47 points in 65 games, playing on a club that features former NHLers Nikolai Goldobin and Ilya Kovalchuk. The 25-year-old ranked second on the team in goals and fourth in points, he ranked fourth league-wide in goals and third among KHL forwards with 145 hits. Tsyplakov added four points in 11 KHL Playoff contests.

Tsyplakov spent the last seven seasons with Spartak where he registered 63 goals and 58 assists for 121 points in 327 regular season games.

Tsyplakov will report to the Islanders camp and should see full-time action with the club this fall.

Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis highlighted Tsyplakov as one of his Top 10 European UFAs, “This is the carrot everyone’s chasing – this year’s Kuzmenko,” Ellis said. “Tsyplakov is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger with Spartak Moskva. He’s having a breakthrough season, scoring a career-best 31 goals and 47 points in 65 games. He struggled over the final few games during the KHL regular season, but he still blew away his personal best of 25 points in a season. Tsyplakov is a good skater, but lacks high-end NHL speed. He won’t win you 1-on-1 battles against quick, smart defenders. Tsyplakov is a finisher, and his ability to drive to the net and win physical battles could be useful in a team’s middle six. There’s size and skill, but he hasn’t shown that in spades before 2023-24 – is he the real deal?”