Maxim Tsyplakov

Tsyplakov's first NHL campaign came at age 26, and he performed fairly well as a power forward in the Islanders' middle six. He ended the year with 10 goals, 35 points, 116 shots on net, 140 hits, 39 PIM and a plus-4 rating over 77 appearances. Tsyplakov probably won't have a particularly high ceiling on offense, especially if he continues to be more of a pass-first player, but the Islanders' abysmal power-play work in 2024-25 likely limited his potential to an extent. His path to the NHL is not a particularly common one in general, but it's worked before, and Tsyplakov could be another success story if he can grow his game in 2025-26. With a middle-six role likely in place, he's worth a look as a depth option in fantasy formats that count hits.