The New Jersey Devils have a new player in their ranks: Maxim Tsyplakov. The 27-year-old forward was acquired from the New York Islanders on January 27, 2026, in exchange for veteran forward Ondrej Palat, a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a sixth-round pick in 2027. The Devils are not retaining any of Palat's $6 million salary.
Tsyplakov, a native of Moscow, Russia, is in his second season in the NHL. He signed with the Islanders as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2024. During his rookie season in 2024-25, he tallied 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points in 77 games. That performance earned him a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension with the Islanders on July 25, 2025. This season, however, his ice time has decreased, and he has recorded just one goal and one assist in 27 games.
Prior to joining the NHL, Tsyplakov played seven seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In the 2023–24 season, he scored 31 goals and 16 assists for 47 points in 65 games for Spartak Moskva.
"We're going to miss 'Pally'," said Devils coach Sheldon Keefe, referring to Ondrej Palat. "He's a tremendous guy, great leader, often is the example in terms of hard work and competitiveness (in) practices, games". Devils captain Nico Hischier echoed this sentiment, stating, "Everybody in here knows what Pally meant to this team, to this organization. He's a guy that's won it, he's a guy that taught us a lot". Palat helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
The Devils are hoping that Tsyplakov, who counts $2.25 million against the cap through the end of the 2026-27 season, will provide a spark to their offense. While Tsyplakov was considered a strong net-front presence and power play option, his slow skating speed has been noted as a potential weakness. It remains to be seen where he will fit into the Devils' lineup.
The departure of Palat, who has one season remaining on a five-year, $30 million contract, also frees up cap space for the Devils. Palat has recorded four goals and six assists in 51 games this season. He is also slated to represent Czechia at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (No. 208) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Palat has 515 points (181 goals, 334 assists) in 876 regular-season games for the Lightning and Devils. He also has 103 points (51 goals, 52 assists) in 155 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
