While Maxim Tsyplakov's role won't be officially known until the end of training camp, his one-year entry-level deal gave us some clues about the Islanders' expectations.
While Maxim Tsyplakov's role won't be officially known until the end of training camp, his one-year entry-level deal gave us some clues about the Islanders' expectations.
In a shocking move, top-ranked European free agent Maxim Tsyplakov chose the New York Islanders.
Now that he is a member of the franchise, the question is where he is going to play.
Well...while that answer won't be officially known until the end of training camp, his one-year entry-level deal gave us some clues:
A cap hit of $950,000 is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for a player who broke out for 31 goals after scoring just 10 in 2022-23.
Tsypankov added 16 assists, as well, for 47 points in 63 games.
Looking back at the cap breakdown, there's something that says "Schedule A performance bonuses."
Per PuckPedia, "A" Bonuses are worth $212,500 each, to a maximum of $850,000 (maximum 4 achieved). For signed starting in 2022, "A" bonuses are worth $250,000 each, to a maximum of $1,000,000 (maximum 4 achieved)."
So, what marks does the skilled right winger have to accomplish to collect $250,000?
Tsyplakov gets a bonus and can reach $1 million by reaching four of the following (H/t PuckPedia):
He's got to do some impressive things for an NHL rookie who has never played the North American game.
While every team should be pushing for an overseas player to overachieve, this essentially eliminates him from starting in the American Hockey League.
Unless things go south, he should be on the Islanders' 2024-25 roster.
As for Tsyplakov's signing bonus, how does it compare to past European free agents?
When the following player signed, their bonuses were worth $212,500 each, for a maximum of $850,000 in bonus money.
Vancouver Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev, who signed a one-year ELC with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $925,000 in 2019, did not receive any signing bonus money.
Mikheyev, at age 24, scored 23 goals with 22 assists for 45 points in 62 games as a 23-year-old in his final season in the KHL.
In his rookie season, he scored eight goals with 15 assists for 23 points in 39 games, a 48-point (~16 goals, 32 assists) projection over the course of an 82-game season.
In his NHL debut, he played on the Leafs' third line alongside Alexander Kerfoot and Trevor Moore, scoring a goal and earning an assist in a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
Mikheyev dealt with injuries and a crowded Toronto forward group -- like Islanders forward Pierre Engvall -- and ended up leaving Toronto, signing a four-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Former Canucks forward and current member of the Calgary Flames, Andrei Kuzmenko, signed a one-year ELC ahead of the 2022-23 season for $950,000, receiving $850,000 in signing bonuses.
Kuzmenko, at 24, scored 20 goals, adding 33 assists for 53 points in 45 games to end his KHL career before arriving in British Columbia.
Debuting on Oct. 13, 2022, Kuzmenko played on the Canucks' third line alongside Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander, scoring a 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
He went on to score 39 goals and 35 assists for 74 points in 81 games before falling off the last two seasons, with inconsistency and health contributing factors.
The Islanders have a few holes in their forward group, with the top left wing (or right wing if Barzal moves to the left wing, where he's more comfortable) opened for business.
With Engvall finishing the season as the third-line right-winger, the second-line left-wing spot may be open.
Grizzled veterans Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, the left and right fourth-line wingers, are both pending unrestricted free agents with uncertain futures.
How the Islanders use their remaining $6.1 million in available cap space (estimate based on whose contracts should be on the NHL roster for 2024-25) will play a vital role in where in the lineup Tsyplakov plays to begin his NHL career.
Despite his quick release and shiftiness, it's more likely that Tsypakov will start in a third—or fourth-line role with the opportunity to move upward. Playing a basic north-south game to get a feel for the style makes sense.
Maybe, he'll get power-play minutes right off the bat on the second unit.
If the Islanders can't find a top-six to add and they look to improve their defense instead, could Tsyplakov start in a top-six spot?
He's a finisher, and the Islanders' top six need that.
The contract says the Islanders expect him to produce.
Coming to the NHL, Tsyplakov is expecting to show well.
Given that 11 other teams were interested, expectations are high, and he should have a real chance to make a difference for the Islanders.