Former KHLer Proving To Be A Diamond In The Rough For Islanders Early In Rookie Season

When the New York Islanders signed then 25-year-old left winger Maxim Tsyplakov out of the KHL off a career-high 31-goal season for Moscow Spartak, he was just a name and a major question mark.

Through 18 NHL games, the now 26-year-old has proven that he’s a bona fide NHLer and could be a major key to the Islanders' offense this season and in the future.

Tsyplakov has played the entire season on the Islanders’ second line alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, two 30-goal scorers.

As a trio, they sit in the top 15 in the NHL with 11.3 expected goals-for (xGF), per moneypuck.com, and are tied for the seventh-most goals in the league, with 11.

While Tsyplakov’s goal total – two goals through 18 games – may not be as high as he would like, his eight assists only trail Palmieri and center Bo Horvat for the team lead.

His seven assists at 5-on-5 are second on the team behind Bo Horvat’s eight.

Tsyplakov is the definition of a power forward, using his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame to his advantage.

He leads the Islanders with 49 hits, averaging 2.7 per game. He also leads the team's forward group with nine takeaways.

Tsyplakov's IQ, board play, net-front presence, and ability to play behind the net make him a tremendous threat when he’s on the ice, and head coach Patrick Roy has allowed him to flourish, playing him 16:41 minutes per game, including on the team's second power-play unit.

"When we watch him, like before talking to him and hoping that he will join our team, that's what we saw in the video,” Roy said. “He was around the net. He was protecting the puck well, he was covering the defense, and when we spoke to him, it was exactly what I said. That's the reason why we like him. That's why we think he could play on top lines for us right away because he's 26. He's ready to play. So, I'm not surprised.”

Because Tsyplakov was under 26 by Sept. 16, he is eligible for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best rookie.

Out of the star-studded rookie draft class, Tsyplakov’s 10 points only trail Philadelphia Flyers’ right winger Matvei Michkov (15), Dallas Stars’ right winger Logan Stankoven (14 and Montreal Canadiens left winger Lane Hutson (11).

Related: NHL Calder Trophy Tracker: Stankoven, Michkov And Hutson In Dead Heat, But Celebrini Lurks

Given his age, Tsyplakov is physically and mentally mature enough for the NHL game.

He joins the likes of fellow Russian forwards, the New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin and the Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, as players who signed as free agents out of the KHL and had immediate success.

Panarin signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a 23-year-old ahead of the 2015-16 season after a 26-goal, 62-point season with SKA St. Petersburg. In 80 games, Panarin took home the Calder after scoring 30 goals with 47 assists for 77 points.

Now in his 10th NHL season, Panarin has recorded 804 points (275 goals, 529 assists) in 687 career games.

After drafting Kaprizov in the fifth round (No. 135) of the 2015 NHL Draft, the Wild signed their prized possession five years later despite losing his rights. Kaprizov had led the KHL in goals for two straight seasons, scoring 30 in 2018-19 and 33 in 2019-20.

In his rookie campaign, Kaprizov also won the Calder after scoring 27 goals and 24 assists for 51 points in 55 games.

Kaprizov, who is in his fifth NHL season, has 361 points (171 goals, 190 assists) in 295 games.

Tsyplakov isn’t the elite goal-scorer that these two are, but he’s been an incredible addition to the Islanders.

He provides the offense and strong all-around play. Truly the kind of player the Islanders have been longing for.

The Islanders will have to make a decision about Tsyplakov come season’s end, as he’s on an expiring one-year entry-level contract worth $950,000.

The pending RFA does have arbitration rights, and while there are still 64 games left to go in the season, there’s no question that Tsyplakov should be part of the long-term equation.

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