New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov may be 26 years old, but he is still eligible to win the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
To be eligible for the Calder, a player must be 26 years or younger by Sept. 15 of their rookie season.
Tsyplakov was 25 by that date.
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In what’s been a tough start to the Islanders’ season, Tsyplakov has shown why many teams lined up for his talents.
While the goal production may be low playing in a top-six role from the get-go with just two, his ability to read players and plays, slow the game down, and find his teammates has been a major standout.
He also has the confidence to drive the net and play in front of and behind the net, which the Islanders needed more of heading into the 2024-25 season and still need more of:
Through 12 games, Tsyplakov has two goals and five assists for seven points, which puts him third in the Calder Trophy race at this point in time.
Out of all the Calder hopefuls, Tsyplakov’s 16:43 minutes per game ranks second.
Let’s look at the list:
Leading the rookie brigade is Dallas Stars forward Logan Stankoven, 21, who has one goal and nine assists for 10 points in 11 games playing on their top line.
Stankoven is averaging 15:39 minutes per game.
Second is Philadelphia Flyers superstar in the making, 19-year-old Matvei Michkov, who has four goals and five assists for nine points in 12 games.
He’s averaging 18:10 minutes per game, playing on their second line.
Behind Tsyplakov would be Anaheim Ducks’ 20-year-old forward Cutter Gauthier, who has four assists through 11 games.
He’s averaged 14:58 per game, playing on their second line.
The San Jose Sharks young dynamic duo of Macklin Celebrini, 18, and Will Smith, 19, round out the five and six spots with two points each.
Celebrini, who played just 17:35 before suffering an injury in his season debut, has a goal and an assist in one game, while Smith, who has averaged 13:41 has two assists in 10 games, lining up as their third-line center.
Because the Islanders are down Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair, two-thirds of their top line, head coach Patrick Roy is giving No. 7 more opportunities, whether it be at 5-on-5 or on the power play.
After a two-point performance against the Buffalo Sabres, in which he played 15:01, Roy spiked Tsyplakov’s minutes, playing him 16:32 in their 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday.
That was the most minutes he’s played since skating 18:09 in their 4-3 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 25.
The expectation is that, while the Islanders try to deal with their injury woes, Tsyplakov will get even more playing time.
If Tsyplakov can take advantage of those newfound minutes, he could win the Calder Trophy come season’s end.
