Report: Leafs among teams interested in KHL forward Maxim Tsyplakov
By Alex Hobson
6 months agoAccording to Hockey News Hub on Twitter, the Toronto Maple Leafs are among four teams interested in KHL forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Tsyplakov, a 25-year-old native of Moscow, Russia, is an undrafted forward who stands at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. He’s had a breakout season in the KHL this year, scoring 22 goals and tallying 32 points in 48 games for Spartak Moskva as of today. He’s projected to finish the season with 30 goals and 44 points in 66 games.
The Leafs have had a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to signing players out of Russia. Players such as Ilya Mikheyev and Alexander Barabanov have been able to put together solid NHL careers, albeit both have since moved on to different NHL teams. Then you have players such as Igor Ozhiganov, who spent only 53 games with the Maple Leafs before returning to the KHL.
Should the Leafs make a move on Tsyplakov, it would be the first international signing for Brad Treliving during his tenure as Leafs GM. His point-production pace is akin to what Mikheyev did the year before coming to North America, so if he were to come overseas and had a smooth transition to the NHL, he could be somebody who could slide into the Leafs’ middle six. He’s got good size and plays his off-wing, shooting left as a right-winger.
Other teams interested in Tsyplakov’s services include the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Arizona Coyotes.
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