Ahead of the start of New York Islanders training camp, here's some notes.
Ahead of the start of New York Islanders training camp, here's some notes.
JERICHO, NY -- The New York Islanders made two key additions this summer.
They brought in speedy forward Anthony Duclair on a four-year deal worth $3.75 million annually while signing Maxim Tsyplakov, the top available European free agent, on a one-year deal worth $950,000 (one-year ELC).
The two should help bolster the Islanders' offense.
Although we have not seen them on the Long Island ice, both attended Matt Martin's charity poker night on Monday.
Both were clean-shaven and had their haircuts in order, chatting it up with fans, who were incredibly happy to meet them for the first time.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is high on bringing in great people, not just great hockey players.
He seems to have nailed that one on the head with these two.
Duclair is amped up and ready for his first year in Blue & Orange and excited to meet all the guys.
For Tsyplakov, he said he's ready to play in the NHL, is excited to be moving out of the hotel and into an apartment in the coming days, and isn't too concerned about the transition from the KHL.
He said he doesn't want to overthink anything and just play the game he's played since he was seven years old.
We shared a few weeks ago that Tsyplakov wasn't planning on coming to North America alone. He's still waiting on documents to bring his wife and child over, but he said that should be cleared up in the next few weeks.
Tsyplakov's English is impressive, and fans will like the energy he brings; for someone who said he had no idea how to play poker, he was celebrating rather often.
Also at the event was Mike Reilly, who inked a one-year deal worth $1.25 million this summer after coming to Long Island via waivers back in November.
All along, Reilly made it clear he wanted to be back, and it was a no-brainer for the Islandes as his game fits right into the kind of transition game that Patrick Roy preaches.
Let's just say he is ecstatic to be back.
Defenseman Scott Mayfield, who underwent season-ending ankle surgery around the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, said that he's good to go.
There's been rumors swirling about starting netminder Ilya Sorokin and a potential injury.
Reporting anything without 100% certainty isn't something we are willing to do, and The Hockey News didn't offer up a doctorate.
But if there is something ailing him, it doesn't seem like anything major.
If it was anything major, he probably would not have been at the event, let alone sitting at a poker table for a few hours.
Outside of current Islanders in attendance, alumni Johnny Boychuk and Arron Asham were in the building.
Since retiring from the NHL, Boychuk has been helping the Islanders youngsters. He's entering his second full season holding a player development role.
He shared that he loves working with the younger players, as they're so receptive to criticism (good or bad), and he takes joy in doing what he can to help them in any way he can.
Islanders training camp opens in a few weeks, with the prospects and young players hitting the ice before you know it.