But as they closed their preseason with another strong performance Friday against the Rangers, there was more evidence that free-agent signee Maxim Tsyplakov could end up being the under-the-radar addition that could give this team an enormous boost in 2024-25.

Tsyplakov is not the first, nor will he be the last, person to make such a jump. But the commonality with which it happens makes it easy to dismiss the scale of such a leap. So too does the relative ease with which most Russian (or other European) players pick up English — Tsyplakov very much included.

Maxim Tsyplakov (New York Islanders) with a Spectacular Powerplay Goal from New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers, 10/04/2024

After the New York Islanders made their first round of cuts, head coach Patrick Roy altered his lines. For the first time since training camp opened, Maxim Tsyplakov got a chance to skate in the top six alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.