Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov Bio
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov is a Russian professional ice hockey player who plays as a right winger in the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his professional career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Spartak Moscow and later signed with the New York Islanders as an undrafted free agent. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 201 pounds, he is the grandson of Soviet and Russian hockey legend Viktor Tsyplakov, a member of the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame.
Early Life and Background
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov was born on 19 September 1998 in Moscow, Russia. Growing up in the Russian capital placed him in the heart of one of the most storied hockey cultures in the world, with local clubs and youth academies offering a steady pipeline into the professional ranks. From an early age, Tsyplakov trained within the Spartak Moscow youth system, where he developed the foundational skills that would carry him into a professional career.
His family background carries deep hockey roots. Tsyplakov is the grandson of Viktor Tsyplakov, a celebrated Soviet-era player who was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. That lineage gave Maxim both a heritage and a benchmark, shaping his work ethic and his understanding of the game from a young age.
Path to Professional Hockey
Tsyplakov progressed steadily through the Spartak Moscow organization, working his way up from junior hockey to the professional roster. He made his KHL debut with Spartak Moscow during the 2017–18 season, stepping into one of Europe’s top professional leagues as a teenager. The transition from junior to professional hockey required a period of adjustment, and Tsyplakov used his early seasons to refine his offensive game and his two-way responsibility.
Over the next several years, Tsyplakov established himself as a dependable scoring winger in the KHL. By the 2023–24 season, his seventh in the league, he had produced his most productive offensive campaign, finishing fourth in KHL goal scoring with 31 goals and adding 16 assists for 47 points across 65 regular season games. That breakout year set the stage for his move to North America and the NHL.
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov Career
Early Career (2016–2024)
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov began his professional career with Spartak Moscow in 2016, working through the organization’s development path before reaching the KHL roster. He made his KHL debut during the 2017–18 season, and over the following years he grew into a regular contributor for Spartak. His left-handed shot and physical 6-foot-3 frame made him a difficult matchup for opposing defensemen.
His development culminated in the 2023–24 season, when Tsyplakov set personal bests in goals, assists, and points while playing a top-six role for Spartak Moscow. Finishing fourth in the entire KHL in goal scoring confirmed his status as one of the league’s most dangerous snipers. With his KHL contract expiring and no NHL draft rights attached to him, Tsyplakov became an attractive undrafted free agent for North American clubs.
New York Islanders Era (2024–2026)
On 17 May 2024, Tsyplakov signed a one-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, marking his long-awaited arrival in the NHL. He joined the Islanders as a left-handed shooting right winger, bringing size, scoring touch, and KHL experience to a team looking to add offensive depth. In his rookie NHL season of 2024–25, he was deployed in a top-nine forward role.
Tsyplakov produced 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points across 77 regular season games, a solid contribution for a first-year player adjusting to the North American game. On 25 July 2025, he avoided arbitration and re-signed with the Islanders as a restricted free agent, agreeing to a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension. During the 2025–26 season, however, his tenure with the Islanders came to an abrupt end.
New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames (2026–Present)
On 27 January 2026, Tsyplakov was traded from the New York Islanders to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Ondřej Palát, a 2026 third-round pick, and a 2027 sixth-round pick. With the Devils, he appeared in 22 games and added one goal and one assist as he worked to carve out a consistent role late in the season.
On 23 June 2026, Tsyplakov was part of another significant move, this time to the Calgary Flames. He was traded, along with Šimon Nemec, to Calgary in exchange for two conditional first-round picks, a 2026 second-round pick, and prospect Étienne Morin. The transaction reflected the value both organizations placed on his size, scoring potential, and remaining contract term.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tsyplakov brings a power-forward profile to the NHL, combining a 6-foot-3, 201-pound frame with a quick, accurate left-handed shot. He is comfortable playing along the boards, winning battles in the corners, and driving the net, which makes him a natural fit in a top-nine forward role. His KHL scoring record demonstrates a reliable finishing touch, and his playmaking improved significantly during his rookie NHL season with the Islanders.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Tsyplakov’s career are his KHL debut with Spartak Moscow, his 31-goal breakout in 2023–24, and his first NHL contract with the New York Islanders in May 2024. His rookie totals of 35 points in 77 games established him as a credible NHL contributor, and his two-trade stretch in the 2025–26 season underscored the league-wide interest in his skill set and contract.
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov Career Wins
While individual goal tallies remain his most measurable offensive currency, Tsyplakov’s career has been marked by steady statistical growth rather than championship hardware. His progression from Spartak Moscow junior hockey to a top-five KHL goal scorer, and then to a productive NHL rookie, reflects a series of personal victories built over a decade of professional play.
KHL and NHL Highlights
Tsyplakov’s most celebrated statistical highlight came during the 2023–24 KHL season, when he scored 31 goals and added 16 assists for 47 points in 65 games, finishing fourth in league goal scoring. In the NHL, his first notable achievement was signing with the New York Islanders in May 2024, followed by his 35-point rookie campaign in 2024–25. Each of these benchmarks represented a step up in competition and visibility.
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov comes from one of Russian hockey’s recognized family trees. He is the grandson of Viktor Tsyplakov, a Soviet-era standout who was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. That connection has shaped Maxim’s identity as a player and placed him among a small group of second-generation Russian hockey professionals.
Personal Life
Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, and built his early career in the Russian capital before relocating to North America. He is a Russian national, and his professional commitments currently take him between New Jersey and Calgary following the trades of the 2025–26 season. Further public details about his personal life, including marital status, are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year covered two distinct chapters of Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov’s NHL journey. He opened 2025 coming off a 35-point rookie season with the New York Islanders, then secured his long-term future on 25 July 2025 by signing a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension. That agreement signalled the Islanders’ commitment to keeping him in their forward group and rewarded his production during his first NHL campaign.
The early months of the 2025–26 season saw Tsyplakov continue in a top-nine role with the Islanders, though his production fluctuated as the team battled for playoff positioning. On 27 January 2026, the Islanders opted to move him, sending Tsyplakov to the New Jersey Devils in a multi-asset deal. He went on to play 22 games for the Devils, recording a goal and an assist, before being part of the blockbuster trade that sent him, along with Šimon Nemec, to the Calgary Flames on 23 June 2026.
Heading into the 2025–26 season outlook, Tsyplakov’s trajectory points toward a fresh start in Calgary, where he is expected to compete for a top-nine role on the wing. The combination of his size, scoring pedigree, and left-handed shot should fit well with the Flames’ forward structure. With two years remaining on his contract, Maxim Viktorovich Tsyplakov has both the runway and motivation to establish himself as a full-time NHL contributor.
