The National Hockey League (NHL) has added another star Russian player. Maxim Tsyplakov officially joins the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old forward signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Islanders.
The Russian chose New York, but refused to go to Panarin. Over the past few years, Maxim Tsyplakov was considered a talented and interesting Russian hockey player, from whom great progress was expected. In the last KHL season, the 25-year-old Russian became one of the best players of Spartak Moscow and the entire league; in 76 matches, including the regular season and playoffs, he scored 51 points (33 goals and 18 assists), remaining an indispensable member of Alexei Zhamnov’s team and brought the “red-whites” a lot of benefit in the club’s breakthrough season.
There was active talk about his possible move to North America already in the winter. Scouts of NHL clubs watched him and negotiated with him. The media reported that there was interest in Tsyplakov from more than ten teams in the world’s main hockey league. Although the Spartak coach did not take these rumors very seriously.
“”Maxim has matured, I knew his strengths and weaknesses. He does what he should. Interest from the NHL? I don’t know what his 16 clubs want, as you write. I know that there are players that 3-4 clubs want to draft in the first round. But for 16 clubs to fight for one player… Don’t tell me it’s good for him, they pay attention to him,” said Alexey Zhamnov. one of the press conferences.
In the last few days, rumors have been actively heard from North America about specific interest in Tsyplakov from the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. However, quite unexpectedly, the contract was signed with the Islanders, led by the famous Patrick Roy. Moreover, according to journalist Eaton Sears, who covers the affairs of the “islanders”, negotiations with Maxim were also conducted by another club from New York – the Rangers. Under the terms of a one-year rookie contract, the Russian’s salary will be $925 thousand. The Islanders, with the acquisition of Tsyplakov, intend to strengthen the depth of the attacking line and use his functions as a universal forward, capable of playing both on the wing and in the center.
“The Islanders received almost for free a player who was rated quite highly by many NHL clubs. He will fill a gap in the depth of the attack. This acquisition is a low risk with a high reward,” said Stephen Rosner, another journalist who covers the life of the Islanders.
Negotiations with Spartak led nowhere. The situation that arose around the person of Tsyplakov tended to become an epic. Over the past months, the relationship between the player’s side and Spartak has been actively discussed in the Russian media. The Moscow club clearly stated its desire to keep the powerful forward in its ranks. The striker himself would also be happy to remain in his home team. But, as often happens, a barrier arose on this path in the form of a financial issue.
Tsyplakov’s agent, in a dialogue with Russian journalists, openly asserted that his client did not receive from the “red-whites” the offer that, in his opinion, the forward really deserved. Moreover, a wave of criticism fell on Spartak due to the fact that the club’s management allegedly drove the hockey player into a dead end and tied his hands, making him an extremely high qualifying offer, depriving other KHL clubs of the opportunity to make an offer to Tsyplakov. Thus, the hockey player had a choice of either meeting Spartak halfway or leaving for North America.
According to rumors, the forward’s side expected to receive a salary at the level of the forward’s new contract with the “red-whites” highly paid player of the Moscow team Nikolai Goldobin. At Spartak, as you know, the salary policy is quite strict. Goldobin is an exception in it – Nikolai proved this in the last KHL season with his record-breaking performance. Tsyplakov was offered other money. Which ones exactly – the information varies. As a result, the parties did not reach a consensus in the negotiations. However, as Spartak stated, the capital’s club does not close its doors to its pupil. It is important that the issue can finally be considered closed, and Russian hockey has the opportunity to watch its next talent in the best league in the world.
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