The New York Islanders and forward Maxim Tsyplakov will avoid arbitration after agreeing on a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.25 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov, a restricted free agent, avoided an arbitration hearing and agreed to a two-year deal on Friday. The contact, as first reported by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, carries an annual average value of $2.25 million.

It’s been three weeks since July 1, when Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said he was “very close” to locking up all of his restricted free agents, with no issues expected.