Kirill Kaprizov

February 2021 – Kaprizov’s transition to the NHL has been seamless. He’s instantly become one of Minnesota’s top offensive contributors and already looks to be one of the more crafty and creative attackers the NHL has to offer. Sam Happi

March 2020 – With the KHL playoffs now cancelled, what is expected to be Kaprizov’s final season in Russia is now over. He found a new level in 2019-2020 for CSKA, surpassing the point per game mark for the first time in his career and finishing third in KHL scoring. Regarded by many as the top NHL-affiliated prospect in the world, Kaprizov is expected to sign with the Wild this summer and make a tremendous impact as a rookie in 2020-2021. Sam Happi

November 2019 – Kaprizov seems to have taken a step forward in what could be his final KHL campaign. With 28 points in as many games, the winger sits third in the league’s scoring race, behind just Vadim Shipachyov and Dmitri Jaskin. It’s been a dominant season for the Russian, flexing his scoring ability and surrounding offensive skillset as his team’s driving force. Minnesota GM Bill Guerin will be in Russia at the beginning of December to visit his prized prospect, a yearly tradition practiced by both Paul Fenton and Chuck Fletcher in recent years. With his contract with CSKA Moskva expiring after the season, all indications are that Kaprizov will be plying his trade at the NHL level in 2020-21. Sam Happi

March 2019 – The former 5th-round-pick in 2015 has developed into one of the top players not in the NHL. A natural goal-scorer that uses excellent edge work and agility to make quick cuts on the ice that most players don’t have the ability to pull off. His shot and stick-handling ability are not only NHL-ready but well above average. Strong on his skates along the boards, he is good in the corners against men in the KHL. His passing ability is good but his vision allows him to remain a high-level playmaker. Putting up 30 goals in just 57 games this season for CSKA Moscow,  Kaprizov will provide immediate 25 goal potential with even higher upside when he does come to the NHL. With the reality of the matter being that he has signed a KHL contract through 2020, it will likely be another season before there’s a realistic shot at a migration to the NHL. Tony Ferrari

November 2018 – The 2020 season cannot come fast enough for Wild fans as Kaprizov has remains dangerously good at hockey. Fresh off a November 19^th hat-trick, he stands at 13 goals, eight assists, and 21 points in 27 games played. New Wild GM Paul Fenton recently returned from a November scouting visit to Moscow and gave high praises of the top prospect in the Wild’s system. Fenton said, “He’s going to be a terrific player for us … He’s got the ability to be a natural goal scorer.” Two very modest statements considering what Kaprizov has displayed so far. The confidence seems to be there in the Wild’s pursuit to bring Kaprizov over when his KHL contract expires. Kaprizov’s hands and shot are a thing of beauty but when you add his agility, pace, and vision he really shows all the tools needed to become a star sniper in the NHL now, let alone another season and a half of developing in the KHL. If your league has room to stash players a season plus out, Kirill Kaprizov is a must own. Tyler Matson

April 2018 – Minnesota GM Chuck Fletcher flew to Moscow to meet with Kaprizov and fellow Minnesota pick Andrei Svetlakov. Kaprizov is a sure-fire NHL talent today, as was indicated in his excellent Olympic gold medal performance, but remains under contract with the powerhouse CSKA team. It’s unlikely he makes the jump before 2020 when his KHL contract expires, but after nine points in six games at the Olympics, 10 in 15 in the KHL playoffs, and 40 in 46 over the season, Minnesota fans will just have to be patient and hope he remains healthy and dangerously good at hockey. Will Scouch

January 2017 – Kaprizov has had a fantastic month in which he broke Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov’s single-season point record for a player under 20 years of age of 41 points. After a coming out party at the World Juniors (scoring nine goals and three assists to lead the tournament in scoring and taking home Top Forward honours to go with a bronze medal), Kaprizov plowed through the KHL in January scoring 12 points in seven games to top Kuznetsov’s record. Kaprizov has shown a remarkable instinct for getting into scoring position and using an excellent shot to put pucks in the net. With a 57-point scoring pace in the KHL as well as a 33.41% involvement rating in team goals, which surpasses Kuznetsov’s 27.7% in his record setting season, he is one of Minnesota’s highest ceiling prospects, if not the highest, and fans should start getting excited about his impending arrival in 2018 or 2019, depending on his contract situation. Will Scouch

August 2016 – Should his recent success be a sign of things to come, expect the Minnesota Wild to make a strong push to sign Kaprizov in 2018 when his current agreement with Novokuznetsk Metalurg expires. He has scoring line upside if he can build on his recent momentum and has publicly stated he’s interested in making the jump in due course. He’s even willing to play in the AHL if need be, which is always welcomed news to NHL executives when pursuing Russian talent. Edric Joseph

May 2016 – Kirill Kaprizov had a banner year for Novokuznetsk Metalurg including a deceptively good 27 points through 53 games. The strong campaign yielded his first all-star game appearance, a rare feat for an 18 year old in the second toughest hockey league there is. He could get a decent look at training camp but would be better suited to keep honing his craft in the KHL while putting on good weight next season. Edric Joseph

August 2015 – After 12 years the Minnesota Wild broke with tradition and went with Russian born forward Kirill Kaprizov. What’s arguably more startling than the dry spell without selecting KHL talent is that they’ve made the selection knowing full well he’s under contract to play in Europe for the next two years. The selection despite this concern is a testament to their faith in his cerebral and efficient play. His production can only really get better after only averaging 11 minutes a game last season for Metallurg Novokuznetzk and the Wild can afford to wait with their wealth of forwards. Edric Joseph