Iskhakov goal No. 2 EAST MEADOW, NY -- This summer, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] signed Russian forward Maxim Tsyplakov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/maxim-tsyplakov-new-york-islanders-russia-interview-sports-express-sorokin-varlamov-romanov] to a one-year entry-level deal worth $950,000. The 25-year-old had a breakout year in the KHL, scoring 31 goals with 16 assists in 65 games for Spartak, leading to a flurry of NHL teams lining up to sign him. He chose Long Island. A few days after the newcomer attended Matt Martin's Poker Night [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-matt-martin-poker-night-matt-martin-foundation-opus-steakhouse-tunnel-for-towers-wounded-warriors], he was on the ice with the Islanders prospects on Thursday morning for the start of rookie camp. He hit the ice in a No. 7 jersey, last worn full-time by Jordan Eberle (2017-2021) and worn by Grant Hutton and Dennis Cholowski over the last few years. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA5MjM1MzY0OTExNTIzNDQw/img_0021.jpg] "I wanted nine," Tsyplakov shared with me at Poker Night, as that's the number he wore in the KHL. But, he is well aware and perfectly okay, knowing that No. 9 is retired for the late Clark Gillies. So, No. 7 it is. TOP STORIES
