{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/sMkiR5Sd.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Difference Between Varlamov & Sorokin", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/sMkiR5Sd-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/sMkiR5Sd.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/sMkiR5Sd.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/sMkiR5Sd-KyKUfvSA.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 257673, "filesize": 4154991, "framerate": 24 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/sMkiR5Sd-rVxHCS6o.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 347807, "filesize": 5608402, "framerate": 24 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/sMkiR5Sd-Ok2KDRCK.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 919528, "filesize": 14827393, "framerate": 24 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/sMkiR5Sd-XtftnkI5.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 113828, "filesize": 1835481 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/sMkiR5Sd-73J2wuh8.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 1080, "width": 1920, "label": "1080p", "bitrate": 2084045, "filesize": 33605227, "framerate": 24 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/sMkiR5Sd-8wczJJH0.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 400087, "filesize": 6451403, "framerate": 24 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/sMkiR5Sd-bYs8wplI.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 627560, "filesize": 10119406, "framerate": 24 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "In a shocking move, top-ranked European free agent Maxim Tsyplakov chose the New York Islanders." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Now that he is a member of the franchise, the question is where he is going to play." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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:" } }, { "id": "css61k9h-2jf0jhw8", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/CapFriendly/status/1791251308025905646", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1791251308025905646", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Tsypankov added 16 assists, as well, for 47 points in 63 games. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Looking back at the cap breakdown, there's something that says \"Schedule A performance bonuses.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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).\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "So, what marks does the skilled right winger have to accomplish to collect $250,000?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Tsyplakov gets a bonus and can reach $1 million by reaching four of the following (H/t PuckPedia):" } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2NDg4NDgzMTQzODg2MTY0/screenshot-2024-05-16-at-105052-pm.png" }, "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "He's got to do some impressive things for an NHL rookie who has never played the North American game." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "While every team should be pushing for an overseas player to overachieve, this essentially eliminates him from starting in the American Hockey League." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Unless things go south, he should be on the Islanders' 2024-25 roster." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "As for Tsyplakov's signing bonus, how does it compare to past European free agents?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "When the following player signed, their bonuses were worth $212,500 each, for a maximum of $850,000 in bonus money. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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." } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2NDk4MTIzNDY2NDE3NDky/usatsi_19817344.jpg" }, "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "With Engvall finishing the season as the third-line right-winger, the second-line left-wing spot may be open." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Grizzled veterans Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, the left and right fourth-line wingers, are both pending unrestricted free agents with uncertain futures. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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. " } }, { "id": "eug81p4b-neygchqe", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/nickpalmer55/status/1791181585556857311", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1791181585556857311", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Maybe, he'll get power-play minutes right off the bat on the second unit. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "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?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "He's a finisher, and the Islanders' top six need that." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The contract says the Islanders expect him to produce. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Coming to the NHL, Tsyplakov is expecting to show well." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Given that 11 other teams were interested, expectations are high, and he should have a real chance to make a difference for the Islanders. " } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "TOP STORIES", "level": 2 } } ] }

What Maxim Tsyplakov's Contract With Islanders Says About Expected Role