Minnesota Wild finally get a major update on Kirill Kaprisov
The Wild's Kirill Kaprizov returned to Minnesota on Tuesday, a source confirmed, an arrival that clears up weeks of speculation about whether the Russian star would be able to get back for next season.
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Kaprizov's exact whereabouts and availability for the start of the 2022-23 season have been up in the air, but the superstar forward is now back on American soil with training camp still weeks away.
Back in July, Kaprizov's name was linked to a Russian investigation into alleged military service evasion. At the 2022 NHL Draft, Wild general manager Bill Guerin said that Kaprizov was still in Russia and doing well.
With Kaprizov in Minnesota and preparing for his third NHL season, the Wild can breathe a sigh of relief. A fifth-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2015, Kaprizov made his NHL debut in the 2020-21 season and immediately became the franchise's best player.
As a 23-year old rookie, Kaprizov put up 27 goals and 51 points in just 55 games. Kaprizov built upon that, posting monster numbers last year. In 2021-22, he scored 47 goals and 108 points in 81 games.
He ranked fifth in NHL scoring, becoming the Wild's first 100-point producer, and the left winger added seven goals and an assist in the playoffs before the Wild was eliminated from the first round by the Blues in six games. The 25-year-old also finished seventh in NHL MVP voting.
A past Calder Trophy winner as the league's top rookie in 2021, Kaprizov signed a five-year, $45 million contract last September.
| POLL | ||
Where will Minnesota finish in 2022-2023? | ||
| Top three in the Central | 26 | 35.6 % |
| In a Wild Card Spot | 30 | 41.1 % |
| Just missing the playoffs | 17 | 23.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
