When the New York Islanders and Oliver Wahlstrom came to terms on a one-year, one-way deal worth $1 million on Thursday, that put the club $950,000 over the NHL’s $88 million salary cap.
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To become compliant, the Islanders will have to make a move.
Because Wahlstrom signed his deal, that doesn’t mean he’ll make the NHL roster—it’s likely that he’ll be moved prior to the start of the season or placed on waivers for the Islanders to become cap-compliant.
But let’s say the Islanders do keep Wahlstrom on the NHL roster to begin the season, potentially to give him one final shot at showing something before eventually waiving him if there are no trade suitors.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello made it clear that if they could find Wahlstrom an opportunity elsewhere they would, but that they wouldn’t give him away for free.
Placing him on waivers is exactly that.
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It’s not as simple as placing another depth player like Hudson Fasching on waivers, as he only makes $775,000.
But what about sending down Maxim Tsyplakov?
The Islanders’ European free agent signing inked a one-year entry-level contract worth $950,000 after a 30-goal campaign for Spartak Moscow in the KHL.
He had many suitors but chose the Islanders, and there’s no question the organization views him as an NHL player.
He’s likely to play a top-six role in 2024-25.
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When The Hockey News asked Lamoriello at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas about Tsyplakov, he had this to say.
“He’s going to be given every opportunity. We did not sign him for Bridgeport,” Lamoriello said. “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.“
But does he have to be on the NHL roster to start the season?
Listen.
The Islanders need Tsyplakov’s potential scoring, but the 25-year-old has never played in North America.
Is it a crazy idea for him to play a handful of games in the AHL to get acclimated to the North American game and ice?
What matters is the success of the Islanders.
If Tsyplakov doesn’t start on the NHL roster, how much weaker are the Islanders to begin the season?
Right now, we have him penciled in as the second-line left winger alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
That leaves Simon Holmstrom and Hudson Fasching fighting for the final spot on the club’s fourth line.
Without Tsyplakov, here’s how the Islanders’ forward lines could look to start:
Anthony Duclair–Bo Horvat–Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall–Brock Nelson–Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee–Jean-Gabriel Pageau–Oliver Wahlstrom
Kyle MacLean–Casey Cizikas–Hudson Fasching
This only makes sense if Wahlstrom is going to get playing time out of the gate. If not, then there’s no reason for Tysplakov to be in Bridgeport.
It’s unlikely that Wahlstrom is on the team to start the 2024-25 season.
But with Tsyplakov not having NHL experience and being one of two players on the projected NHL roster to be waiver-exempt–Kyle MacLean is the other–it would be the only financial move that would allow the Islanders to be cap-compliant if Wahlstrom is to be part of the roster.
Also, don’t be surprised if Tsyplakov is optioned to Bridgeport during the season as a paper transaction to help accrue cap space.
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