Insider confirms Leafs' interest in signing rising KHL star Tsyplakov
Russian prospect Maxim Tysplakov is expected to make a decision on his playing future this week with the Toronto Maple Leafs being one of his options.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on today's '32 Thoughts' podcast, Maxim Tysplakov, a 25-year-old prospect that is playing in the KHL, is set to make a decision about which NHL team he will be joining for the upcoming season.
The undrafted forward has spent the last seven seasons in the KHL playing for Moscow Spartak, but was not on any NHL team's radar until this season. In 65 games, the 6'2, 200-pound right-winger registered 31 goals and 47 points, both career highs. Prior to this season, he did not registere more than 10 goals or 25 points in any of the previous six seasons with Moscow Spartak.
Friedman mentioned that a decision from Tysplakov is likely to come this week and that a number of teams are interested, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs were one of the teams that met with him multiple times on video calls according to Friedman and he could slot into the middle-six immediately, especially if Mitch Marner does end up being traded.
The Leafs have a had a number of former KHL players join their team such as Ilya Mikhayev and Alexander Barabanov, but have not 'hit a home-run,' so to speak, the same way the Chicago Blackhawks did with Artemi Panerin.
| POLL | ||
MAI 13 | 630 ANSWERS Insider confirms Leafs' interest in signing rising KHL star Tsyplakov Should the Leafs take a chance on Tysplakov? | ||
| Yes, he will give them more depth | 205 | 32.5 % |
| No, he had one good season | 90 | 14.3 % |
| Don't know enough about him | 335 | 53.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
