What are the realistic expectations for Maxim Tsyplakov with the NY Islanders?

I've never seen Maxim Tsyplakov play live and you probably haven't either.

I have watched plenty of YouTube highlights and know that the 25-year-old scored 31 goals in 66 games in the KHL last season for the Moscow Spartak, no small feat.

Every summer, there seems to be one acquisition that is an intriguing enigma ahead of training camp. There was supposed to be second-liner Jan Kovar from the Czech Republic and then NHLers who had shown previous flashes, such as Dmytro Timashov and Nikita Soshnikov. None of them stuck around for long, and in the case of Kovar, he never appeared in a game for the franchise.

So why will things be different for Tsyplakov?

General Manager Lou Lamoriello made it clear at the 2024 NHL Draft that they expect him to not just stick in the organization but to be in their NHL lineup. "He’s going to be given every opportunity," said Lamoriello. "We did not sign him for Bridgeport. He had a lot of opportunities. Our scouts did a great job with him. You’ll get a chance to see him. He’s an NHL-type of player."

Let's say the Russian forward does indeed make the most of his opportunities and makes the team. What type of production should we expect? Beat reporter Arthur Staple was asked that question for his mailbag in The Athletic and kept the expectations modest. "I’d go with 15-18 goals and 40-44 points as a solid season, wrote Staple. "He’s on a team that doesn’t score bunches of goals, and he’s giving it a go in the NHL for the first time — you can count on one hand the number of guys who came from the KHL and lit it up in their first season over here."

We agree with Staple. While bringing over a highly coveted 30-goal KHL scorer offers hope that those numbers can translate to the NHL, if Tsyplakov can contribute to more balanced and consistent scoring across the top nine, he'll be a worthy acquisition and a solid piece for the Islanders.

With the acquisition of Anthony Duclair, it's likely that he fits in on a third line with some upside during the course of the season as lines undoubtedly shift at points during the season.