Also: Rocky Thompson on Brent and Bridgeport.
There is a little more offseason business for the Islanders to do as one of their RFAs, Maxim Tsyplakov, was among 11 NHLers filing for arbitration.
That’s not too crazy — there are far more intriguing arbitration cases with players like Lukas Dostal and Kaapo Kakko — but it does put an endpoint on the negotiation window, as the sides will either reach an agreement or get one handed to them after the arbitration hearing window, which runs July 20 – Aug. 4.
Tysplakov is coming off his ELC ($950k cap hit) as a KHL import at age 26, so arbitration will give him a one-year deal with a new benchmark price after a so-so 10-goal rookie season. The Isles have a little over $3.9 million left in projected cap space with 22 of 23 spots filled, per PuckPedia, though that includes David Rittich in goal and Semyon Varlamov on IR, with a difference of $1.75 million in their cap hit).
Potential callups/replacements who aren’t in that 23 (e.g. Calum Ritchie, Matthew Schaefer when he signs) all have ELC-level rates, so that’s a fair picture of where they are, barring more summer intrigue and given Varlamov’s health is a question mark..
Islanders News
- So yes, Tsyplakov filed for arbitration. [Post]
- In a rather angst-free season finale of Islanders Anxiety, Dan and Mike discuss the last week of intrigue and how things are just kind of cool right now. [LHH]
- We linked the raw video the other day, but here’s the official site write-up of Rocky Thompson’s media availability. He stressed building relationships with the players who will soon or one day be under his charge in the AHL, and his longtime friendship with mentor Brent Thompson. [Isles] And here’s Newsday version. [Newsday]
- Can Matthew Schaefer make the opening night lineup? [Newsday]
- That question, of course has a bearing on Isaiah George’s chances. [Post+]
Elsewhere
- Here are all of the league’s arbitration filers. [NHL]
- Lars Ehlers took extra time and made lots of calls to feel like Carolina was the right fit. [NHL] It was an “emotional” departure from Winnipeg for him. [Sportsnet]
- At the other end of the spectrum, Jonathan “The Other” Toews “knew in [his] heart that coming home to Winnipeg was the right fit. [NHL | Sportsnet]
- J.J. Peterka is excited to escape Buffalo and take on a new role in Utah. [NHL]
- Apparently James van Riemsdyk is still playing, now signing with the Red Wings. [NHL]
- Try to excite yourself for the 10 top UFAs still on the market. [Sportsnet]
- R.I.P. Lyndon Byers, longtime Bruin of the ‘80s. [NHL]