Kirill The Megastar

Kirill Kaprizov has been considered among the NHL’s elite since his arrival in Minnesota for the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, and it didn’t take the winger long to establish himself as the best player in the franchise’s 24-year history.

The frequency of Kaprizov’s dazzling displays of skill left one wondering if there was another level to his game. Kaprizov’s start to this season has provided the answer: You ain’t seen nothing yet.

The 27-year-old and three-time All Star has played like a guy who wants to be mentioned in the same breath as McDavid, MacKinnon, Kucherov and Draisaitl. Not just a superstar, but a megastar.

“He’s the best player in the league right now,” Wild defenseman Brock Faber said on Friday after a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay at Xcel Energy Center. “Actually, cut that out, I don’t want to jinx him. But, no, he deserves it all. Everything he’s doing right now, he’s been the leader of our team, no doubt.”

Kaprizov’s performance against the Lightning added to the early stages of what looks like a Hart Trophy campaign. He had two goals, including an empty-netter, and a gorgeous assist on Joel Eriksson Ek’s second-period goal to tie the score at 1. Kaprizov didn’t have a shot on goal until he got to the front of the net to knock in the rebound of Marco Rossi’s wrap-around shot at 14:37 of the third period.

Kirill Kaprizov has gotten off to a hot start in 2024-25, scoring multiple points in seven consecutive games. He’s one of the top players in the league. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Kaprizov seventh consecutive multi-point game — a franchise record — gave him 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) and has him in a tie with Florida’s Sam Reinhart and Colorado’s Cale Makar for the NHL lead. That is the fastest a Wild player has ever gotten to 20 points. Kaprizov has scored three goals into an empty net, but, so far, it’s his playmaking ability that has really stood out.

“I feel good,” said Kaprizov, who now does interviews without the assistance of an interpreter but is never going to run with the praise he deserves.

Kaprizov had only his second game of the season without a point in the Wild’s 2-1 overtime victory against visiting Toronto on Sunday as Minnesota improved to 8-1-2 on the season. The Wild’s 18 points put them in second place in the Central Division behind an even hotter team, the 11-1-0 Winnipeg Jets.

Kaprizov has been here before. He has had extended stretches of greatness, where he is the best player on the ice, mixing elite skill with the work ethic of a guy who looks as if he’s trying to stick on the fourth line.

The difference is Kaprizov has never started a season like this.

Putting slow starts behind him
Last season, the Wild were 3-5-2 after 10 games and 5-10-4 with seven consecutive losses in late November when coach Dean Evason was fired and replaced by John Hynes. Kaprizov had only six goals and 18 points and was a minus-10 when Evason was jettisoned following a 4-1 loss in Detroit. Those aren’t terrible numbers, but as Kaprizov’s start to this season shows, they aren’t close to what he’s capable of providing.

Kaprizov’s production has come playing on the Wild’s top line with center Rossi and his best friend, Mats Zuccarello. It was Hynes who split up Kaprizov and Zuccarello last season — moving Eriksson Ek and winger Matt Boldy to the No. 1 line — and it was Hynes who decided to put them back together this season.

Kaprizov did take off after Hynes’ arrival, scoring 40 goals and 78 points in 56 games. But that wasn’t enough to get the Wild into the playoffs, in large part because the team’s poor start made the entire season an uphill climb.

But this version of the Wild, led by Kaprizov, looks very different from a year ago, even though many of the names are the same. Hynes ran a tough training camp to prepare his players for the season and they rewarded him by not easing into things. Included was a 5-1-1 record on a seven-game trip that has created a confidence you rarely saw last fall.

That’s driven in large part by Kaprizov.

Kaprizov driving up his price?
“You can all see how good he is on the ice, how well he’s playing,” Faber said. “Such a complete game, too. He works his ass off day in, day out. And then the player he is off the ice, that’s the coolest part for me and, I think, the whole team. He’s such a good teammate, he’s such a good leader, such a good person.”

Kaprizov’s start is good news for the Wild and also himself. He’s eligible for a contract extension on July 1, 2025, and with each game is making a case for why he deserves to be among the top paid players in the NHL. What could the price tag be?

Kirill Kaprizov and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews on the ice during the game at Xcel Energy Center on Nov 3, 2024. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Draisaitl signed an eight-year, $112 million extension with the Oilers in September that will pay him $14 million a season. McDavid, also eligible for an extension this coming July, will reset the market.

Wild owner Craig Leipold said before the regular season began that “nobody will offer more money than us, or longer.” Because Kaprizov plays for the Wild, they can offer eight years as opposed to seven from an outside team, but the financial commitment figured to be a big one when Leipold said this and has only grown.

Kaprizov will have a year left on his contract entering next season, but the Wild isn’t going to want to deal with a year of wondering whether he will return, if it can be avoided. Especially when you consider his level of play and a level of commitment that goes way beyond the scoresheet.

“He’s proven that he’s committed to play both sides of the puck five-on-five, and he’s been very good in those situations,” Hynes said. “I think that’s what makes him special. We talk about a one-trick pony. He’s not a one-trick pony. He’s obviously a point guy and a highly talented offensive player, but his commitment to play for the team and his commitment to do the things necessary when he doesn’t have the puck is what’s really impressive to me.”

And, at the rate Kaprizov is going, it’s getting more impressive by the day.

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