Maple Leafs among many teams interested in top prospect who's having a career year in Russia

Maxim Tsyplakov.

Maxim Tsyplakov is having a career year in the KHL and saying he has caught the eye of some NHL teams would be putting it lightly.  Tsyplakov’s agent Alexander Chernykh told The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke that at least a dozen NHL teams have expressed an interest in signing the winger for next season.  He confirmed that the Maple Leafs are among those teams pursuing Tsyplakov.

The 25-year-old had a bounce-back season in 2022-23, picking up 25 points in 63 games with Spartak Moscow.  However, Tsyplakov has found another gear this season, lighting the lamp 30 times already while chipping in with 15 assists in 58 contests while logging nearly 18 minutes a night.  His goal total is tied for the third-highest in the KHL this season behind former NHLers Reid Boucher and Nikolay Goldobin.

Standing 6-foot-3, Tsyplakov is also able to play with some physicality which would help him potentially fit in on a lower line to start next season as it’s rare that an undrafted free agent would jump into an NHL top six right away.  Kloke notes that Toronto also discussed the possibility of trying to play Tsyplakov at center which would certainly increase his value if he’s able to do so consistently.

Tsyplakov is still subject to entry-level regulations, so wherever he signs, it will be a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL salary worth less than $1M.  Considering the level of interest expressed so far, it stands to reason that he should be able to secure some performance bonuses which are capped as well.  Most teams will make the same offer so it will be up to Tsyplakov to determine the best fit, especially since he’d be arbitration-eligible following next season.

Unlike pending NHL free agents, KHL contracts expire at the end of April, so Tsyplakov will be eligible to sign at that time.  With the interest he has already received, there’s a good chance it won’t take long for him to sign when the calendar turns to May.

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