Leafs among 12 teams eyeing KHLer Maxim Tsyplakov, agent says

The Toronto Maple Leafs are among 12 NHL teams interested in signing Russian forward Maxim Tsyplakov, his agent, Alexander Chernykh, told The Athletic's Joshua Kloke.

Tsyplakov, 25, is in the final year of his KHL contract and enjoying a breakout season for Spartak Moscow with 30 goals and 15 assists in 58 games. He tallied 10 goals and 15 assists in 63 games the year prior.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound forward has primarily played wing in the KHL, though the possibility of playing center was discussed during a Zoom call with Tsyplakov, Chernykh, and senior members of Leafs management last week, Kloke added.

The Maple Leafs could have a need at center next season. Third-line pivot Max Domi is a pending free agent, and there's a case to be made that John Tavares is better suited for the wing at this point in his career.

Tsyplakov is a north-south forward with a physical element to his game, as evidenced by his 128 hits this season - the fourth-most among KHL forwards.