Islanders promote Maxim Tsyplakov to second line with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri

Brock Nelson wonders what it would be like to be in Maxim Tsyplakov’s situation, coming to North America for the first time and trying to master English at the same time he’s battling to earn a role with the Islanders.

The second-line center saw more of Tsyplakov firsthand during Sunday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow as coach Patrick Roy elevated the Russian import to skate with Nelson and right wing Kyle Palmieri. That trio will likely start together when the Islanders face the Flyers on Monday night at UBS Arena in their fifth of six preseason games.

“I like to play with them,” said Tsyplakov, 26, who signed a one-year, $950,000 deal with the Islanders after finishing fourth in the KHL last season with 31 goals. “I don’t change my game.”

So far in preseason, Roy has used the 6-3, 210-pound Tsyplakov in more of a bottom-six role, skating with Kyle MacLean and Julien Gauthier in both a 4-2 road win over the Devils on Sept. 22 in the preseason opener and in Friday’s 5-1 win over the visiting Devils and with Gauthier and Fredrik Karlstrom in Thursday’s 2-0 loss in Philadelphia.

But Tsyplakov, also being used as a net-front presence on the preseason power play, may be better suited to a top-six role because of his skating, passing and willingness to head to the crease to create scoring opportunities. He launched a picture-perfect, cross-ice feed to set up Gauthier’s goal at the right post in the preseason opener.

The Islanders conclude their preseason hosting the Rangers on Friday before the regular season opens on Oct. 10 against the Utah Hockey Club at UBS Arena.

“We’re going to try a lot of things,” Roy said. “He’s got size. He’s skating well. He moves the puck well. Makes plays. Defends pretty well. That’s why we took our time with him. We didn’t rush him into any role.”

Tsyplakov blossomed last season with 47 points in 65 games for Moscow Spartak in his seventh KHL season. Ex-Islander Shane Prince, his teammate the previous two seasons, helped him in starting to learn English.

“Trying to think about yourself in his shoes and how different a transition that would be and how hard that would be,” Nelson said. “He does a pretty good job of asking questions and trying to learn and take as much in as he can.”

Notes & quotes: Goalie Semyon Varlamov was given Sunday’s practice off for rest and Roy said he will also be rested Monday and not dress against the Flyers . . . The Islanders said they had no update on goalie Ilya Sorokin as he recovers from offseason back surgery. He has yet to practice with the team . . . Right wing Hudson Fasching (lower body) remains day-to-day . . . Goalie Henrik Tikkanen, defensemen Marshall Warren of Laurel Hollow, Aidan Fulp, Isaiah George, Travis Mitchell and Calle Odelius and forwards William Dufour, Marc Gatcomb, Alex Jeffries, Eetu Liukas, Matt Maggio and Cam Thiesing were re-assigned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Forward Tyce Thompson was also re-assigned to Bridgeport after clearing waivers.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.