After returning for 3 video games, the All-Star winger shall be sidelined for at the least 4 weeks.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 28, 2025 at 9:59PM
The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov shall be sidelined a minimal of 4 weeks after surgical procedure deliberate for a lower-body damage, Invoice Guerin mentioned. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Relaxation through the vacation break wasn’t sufficient for Wild star Kirill Kaprizov to recuperate from a lower-body damage. He missed 12 video games over 5 weeks after which made a three-game return, however the damage didn’t sufficiently heal.
And now the Wild and Kaprizov are taking the following step — surgical procedure that can sideline the 27-year-old Russian for at the least 4 weeks however not for the rest of the common season.
Wild Basic Supervisor Invoice Guerin delivered the information Tuesday at TRIA Rink, the place Kaprizov was absent from apply earlier than the staff, which gained Sunday at Chicago, left to proceed its five-game street swing that heads to Toronto on Wednesday earlier than hitting Montreal on Thursday, Ottawa on Saturday and Boston subsequent Tuesday.
Guerin didn’t have a selected date for Kaprizov’s surgical procedure.
“It’s unlucky,” Guerin mentioned. “Kirill was having a Hart Trophy-type season. It’s disappointing for him. It’s disappointing for us, too, however we’ve put ourselves in place within the standings and the best way we’re taking part in. … It’s not the top of the world.”
Kaprizov, who leads the Wild with 23 objectives and 29 assists in 37 video games performed this season, performed in three video games since his return, going pointless in opposition to Utah on Thursday and gathering an help Saturday in opposition to Calgary and one other Sunday in opposition to Chicago. Nonetheless, it was noticeable that he didn’t have the standard explosiveness in his skating.
Guerin mentioned Kaprizov didn’t endure one other damage to the world since returning to motion, however he hadn’t proven sufficient enchancment.
“He simply by no means got here round,” Guerin mentioned. “That is one thing that we really feel — he feels, his agent feels — that’s simply mandatory.”
Kaprizov is a three-time 40-goal scorer for the Wild and coming off a season with 46 objectives and 50 assists. He thrust himself into the early dialog for the Hart Trophy this season, with 50 factors in his first 34 video games because the Wild hung out atop the Western Convention standings.
Since then, they’ve been hit arduous by accidents, with captain Jared Spurgeon, defensemen Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin and middle Joel Eriksson Ek lacking important time. Brodin went on long-term injured reserve (retroactive to Jan. 7).
Kaprizov, who went on injured reserve, was not out there to remark Tuesday and had been reluctant to debate the damage upon his return final week.
“Simply one thing occurred,” he mentioned final week. “I simply don’t wish to speak about this quite a bit. It’s now good.”
Guerin mentioned Kaprizov is taking the information arduous, although the prospect of returning in time for the playoffs is motivation.
“Kirill’s very upset,” Guerin mentioned. “Kirill is such a team-focused man, and I feel with what he has, he is aware of he might most likely get by in video games and attempt to assist the staff.”
Added coach John Hynes, “It was actually weighing on him that, despite the fact that he instructed me, ‘Nicely, I’m solely at 60%.’ I mentioned, ‘Nicely, you’re probably the greatest gamers on the ice at 60%.’ However to him, it’s the usual of serving to the staff on the degree he desires to assist the staff.”
Guerin acknowledged that Kaprizov’s damage might consider his plans for the March 7 NHL commerce deadline.
“It might, it might,” he mentioned. “Thank God I’ve folks which might be a lot smarter than me round me, serving to me with the wage cap stuff. So, we’ll see how a lot area we now have and the place this leads us. Hey, look, we’ll do what we’re in a position to do with the cap area that we now have.”
If there may be excellent news of the damage’s timing, it’s that the NHL will shut down from Feb. 12-21 for the 4 Nations Faceoff match — giving Kaprizov time to heal with out recreation outcomes affecting the Wild’s spot within the Western Convention standings.
“The most effective factor to do is to close him down proper now for a short time, repair the issue after which get him again to 100%,” Guerin mentioned.
“We’re going to maintain taking part in and proceed to get higher, and when Kirill’s wholesome and all healed up, he’ll be again and we’ll be even higher.”
Wild at Toronto Maple Leafs
Wednesday, 6 p.m., Scotiabank Area
TV, radio: FanDuel Sports activities Community North, 100.3-FM
Maple Leafs replace: Toronto (30-18-2) entered Tuesday main the Atlantic Division with 62 factors however has misplaced two consecutive video games and is 5-5 in its previous 10. Mitch Marner leads the Maple Leafs in scoring (15-53-68), whereas William Nylander is tops with 28 objectives. Joseph Woll (17-9-0, 2.67 GAA, .907 save pct.) is the possible starter in objective.
Accidents: Wild F Kirill Kaprizov (decrease physique), F Marcus Johansson (concussion) and D Jonas Brodin (decrease physique) are out. Toronto F Matthew Knies (higher physique), C John Tavares (decrease physique) and F Connor Dewar (higher physique) didn’t apply Tuesday; F Max Pacioretty (head) returned to apply.
