Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers and Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, rivals on the ice but friends off it since their days in Russia, have impressive achievements.

The Islanders signed second-year forward Maxim Tsyplakov to a two-year contract, avoiding arbitration with the 26-year-old.

The Islanders and Max Tsyplakov did not get as far as arbitration. The two sides avoided the July 29 hearing date as ...