The New York Islanders announced a two-year extension with Max Tsyplakov, avoiding an arbitration hearing and locking him up at a very reasonable rate.
Before the team could get the announcement out Friday afternoon, Elliotte Friedman cottage-tweeted the cap hit of $2.25 million:
NYI and Maxim Tsyplakov avoid arbitration
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 25, 2025
2 x $2.25M
Tsyplakov was one of 11 NHLers to file for arbitration this summer, though these days most reach an agreement before their hearing, which for him would’ve come July 29. A
one-year deal would’ve walked the KHL import to UFA, so this provides some nice flexibility for the Isles as Tsyplakov continues to establish his NHL profile in his age 27 season.
He’s coming off a one-year ELC that had a $950,000 cap hit. With 10 goals and 25 points and 14-15 minutes of ice time per game, he didn’t wow during his rookie year but he showed flashes. Some of his underlying numbers hint at an effective and intermittently productive NHL regular, especially if he can avoid taking minor penalties.
This salary sounds about right for where he is and what his usage may be. There will be competition for the kind of top-six wing spots that would allow him to outperform this contract on his way to a bigger payday in UFA.
