Article: No Timeline For Kirill Kaprizov Injury, But There Is Good News

[Thomas Williams]

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[RedLake]

Time to call up Haight.

[MNCountryLife]

Wild had a good D structure last night and some great play by Gus.  Good thing because we got bottled up in our zone for long periods of time. One of Merrill's better games recently.  He played head up and went stick to stick for the first time I have seen in a long time.  Need to keep winning as the teams behind us are doing well... Blues have gone 7-2-1.

[MrCheatachu]

You can listen to the full podcast, but the context from Servalli is more concerning:

Quote

"They're hoping that he starts skating at the end of this month. He hasn't been skating. I knew someone that ran into him during the 4 Nations break and he said he was going to be out a while. That sort of raised my eyebrows, but I've been asking the question: 'Hey, what's happening? Where's Kirill Kaprizov?' The Wild don't have a timeline," Seravalli said Tuesday on Daily Faceoff. 

"They're not pulling anyone's leg here. They honestly don't have the answer to the question. They're concerned," Servalli added. "How could you not be about a player of this big of an impact?"

And small detail, the shot that hit Rossi was a Boldy shot, I don't think that technically is a 'block'

[RedLake]

42 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

You can listen to the full podcast, but the context from Servalli is more concerning:

And small detail, the shot that hit Rossi was a Boldy shot, I don't think that technically is a 'block'

He got cross-checked in the kidneys. 

[IllicitFive]

Great effort last night, Hartman looks like the suspension did him wonders, looking like the player we have craved to see again. Missing Kap, Brodin, Ek, Moose, NoJo (Lets be honest, his play lately has been good so that is a miss) and losing Rossi now for who knows how long. What gods did this team anger? I don't think many if, any, were due to getting "bullied" either. 

Upshot, Ohgren looked good last night, Gus looks to be back to being solid, Vinnie has been looking like a solid pick up, Hartman continues his vengeance tour, looked like a man on a mission and I for one am here for it. Just bottle that up and continue to play like that. Boldy scoring 2 hopefully unlocks him, with yet another top scorer being bit by the injury bug means the wild need Boldy to take over, play like the man possessed we have seen flashes of, and secondary scoring to continue. Here is hoping that by some miracle the team gets healthy and back in playing shape by playoffs. Would love to see this used as an opportunity to bring young guys up, give them a chance, let them see what a ramped up end of the season looks like so they know what to expect and how to prepare for their next cup of coffee or to take over a spot full time.

[Citizen Strife]

I think regardless of who they face (likely Dallas or Vegas), they just have to play cooler than the Dallas series from a few years ago.  They don't have the offensive depth or special teams to play from behind.  But the team is great at keeping it close and breaking through.

It's a tall task to not take penalties (even without the refs help)...but they don't have the firepower yet.  

[mnfaninnc]

Speaking of blocked, I was blocked from the game last night on TNT. 

Quote

41 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

And small detail, the shot that hit Rossi was a Boldy shot, I don't think that technically is a 'block'

 

So, does this count as a tip? I've got a tip for them, don't tip the puck with the inside of your knee, or your right nut! 😉

Boldy scored twice, the hope is that suddenly he gets blazing hot and goes on one of those 20-25 game hot streaks.

Not being able to get real injury information is difficult. My suspicion with Kaprizov is they found more damage than thought and had to "fix" more than just 1 thing. So, why didn't they go get help? Perhaps the help was either too expensive or not available. But what about Rantanen?

Carolina plays a very structured game, much like we do. Rossi and Ek are our 2 top centers, I would say an offensive downgrade from Aho, and certainly from MacKinnon. Would Ranty thrive here? Perhaps not, he did not like playing in Carolina's system. It may have been the conclusion that Ranty wasn't signing here longterm, and wouldn't be as effective as his stats would indicate. Guerin got a good look at him when Carolina came to town and we frustrated the winger in a shutout victory.

It may also have been the opinion of the scouts that Cozens was not the type of player we needed here. We need buy in for 200'. Cozens was only giving us about 150'. We're pretty sure that Larkin wasn't even available, he would have been a nice get. 

What I did like hearing from Servalli is that Guerin wants to stay disciplined. He's not looking for the best players, he's looking for the best players for the Wild. I believe he's building a team full of 200' players, not just offensive superstars. 

Hopefully I'll get a chance to watch last night's game once it becomes available, shouldn't be too hard, watch the start of the 1st period and fast forward to the 3rd. 

[OldDutchChip]

I can’t open and listen, so can someone comment on what this is all about? Is the person credible? this seems like a huge topic…..
 

Seravalli did mention that he believes the Wild and Kaprizov eventually get a contract extension done this summer that will keep him in St. Paul beyond next season. Kaprizov is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

[mnfaninnc]

11 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

Here is hoping that by some miracle the team gets healthy and back in playing shape by playoffs. Would love to see this used as an opportunity to bring young guys up, give them a chance, let them see what a ramped up end of the season looks like so they know what to expect and how to prepare for their next cup of coffee or to take over a spot full time.

2 nice concepts here. The 1st is the health of the team. 1 thing that has happened is that the kids aren't ready yet, and the team had a depth problem due to the buyouts. Why so many injuries? I'm wondering if the guys who were injured were getting overplayed? It doesn't really matter how they were injured, the overplaying would have weakened them for a normal thing to become an injury.

The 2nd comes from the chance to bring up some young guys. Last season we were chasing points and every win by a team above us caused us not to gain ground. Every team knows we have injury trouble, and that gives them hope, and then every win they get is matched with our win and they don't gain ground. Frustration can set in, especially when we're trying to run out the clock. 

Blues and Canucks are battling for 1 spot. We've just got to stay ahead of that battle, and keeping that 8 point lead. We just need to take care of business against Buffalo coming up.

[M_Nels]

11 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

I think regardless of who they face (likely Dallas or Vegas), they just have to play cooler than the Dallas series from a few years ago.  They don't have the offensive depth or special teams to play from behind.  But the team is great at keeping it close and breaking through.

It's a tall task to not take penalties (even without the refs help)...but they don't have the firepower yet.  

BINGO!!! When the Wild started gooning it up and playing undisciplined is when that series went south. Say what you want about Dallas diving but the fact is the team took far too many penalties and Dean made some very questionable coaching (non) decisions.

Non-Wild fans can keep up the "Mild" moniker but when this team plays a structured defensive style from the goalie out they can hang with anybody in tight games. We don't have the firepower to win 6-4 type games but can hang with anyone in tight games.

[Pewterschmidt]

1 hour ago, IllicitFive said:

Vinnie has been looking like a solid pick up

Agree.  Vinni-stroza has brought good energy and is capable of making ice hockey plays.  Nice pickup off the scrap heap bill.

Now let's talk about Trenin's breakaway shoot out move last night...

[MrCheatachu]

30 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

Say what you want about Dallas

DeBoer brilliantly used his press conferences to play Dean-o like a fiddle.

Oh, and Dumba attempted to murder Pavelski.  Just ask VGK about the outcome when you touch Pavs...

[Up North Guy]

32 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

DeBoer brilliantly used his press conferences to play Dean-o like a fiddle.

Oh, and Dumba attempted to murder Pavelski.  Just ask VGK about the outcome when you touch Pavs...

let's not forget how Deano abused the refs all season that year as well. The team took on that personality and the refs were having none of it.

[MacGyver]

3 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

I can’t open and listen, so can someone comment on what this is all about? Is the person credible? this seems like a huge topic…..
 

Seravalli did mention that he believes the Wild and Kaprizov eventually get a contract extension done this summer that will keep him in St. Paul beyond next season. Kaprizov is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Seravalli knows no more than anyone on this board whether Kaprizov signs or not. Just his opinion and hockey writers and talking heads are wrong much of the time.  I think the bigger question is he going to be the same Kaprizov after this surgery. This has gone on far too long with far too little information coming out. He is not even skating yet and we are one month away from the playoffs starting. 

I'm more worried about Billy and OCL throwing far too much money at what could very well be damaged goods and a less productive Kaprizov and someone in and out of the line up for both short and long stretches going forward. I think his value in both trade and money have devalued a bit because of this. 

Edited March 20 by MacGyver

[FredJohnson]

Contract offer value is going down…

[Fezig]

Does anyone know why the Wild didn't give KK the LT designation to open up the possibility to add top-tier talent? 

[IllicitFive]

1 hour ago, Fezig said:

Does anyone know why the Wild didn't give KK the LT designation to open up the possibility to add top-tier talent? 

If they put any of them on LTIR they would need to stay there until the playoffs to have that cap money, the hope was/is that any or all 3 of Brodin, Ek, and Kap would be back before the end of the regular season.  All balancing a check book based on hopes of the future.

[RedLake]

McDavid got roughed up last night against the Jets. They're fans are freaking out. The Jets are rolling heavy as usual.

[MrCheatachu]

4 hours ago, Fezig said:

Does anyone know why the Wild didn't give KK the LT designation to open up the possibility to add top-tier talent? 

3 hours ago, IllicitFive said:

If they put any of them on LTIR they would need to stay there until the playoffs to have that cap money, the hope was/is that any or all 3 of Brodin, Ek, and Kap would be back before the end of the regular season.  All balancing a check book based on hopes of the future.

To paraphrase Russo's arguments:

1) KK needs time playing at game-speed to be ready for the playoffs, getting him ramped up and ready to play is going to be better than anybody in the rental market

2) KK is going to be your best shot to win games down the stretch.  There's concern this team might have some 'must win' games to close out the season to make the playoffs, you're going to want KK.  You'll look absolutely foolish if you dont make the playoffs by 1-2 points and have a Kaprizov sitting on the shelf.  I'm aware this conflicts with the first point...

The argument I buy:

1) BillyG looked at the rental market and didnt want to overpay.  He used the guys on IR as an excuse to sit-tight with the team he had.  If they were on LTIR he would have no excuses not to make a move, if 'theres a chance' they'll come back, he gets an easy out

[Pewterschmidt]

3 hours ago, IllicitFive said:

the hope was/is that any or all 3 of Brodin, Ek, and Kap would be back before the end of the regular season. 

With understanding that they get some games in before playoffs (especially 97 who's proven he needs ramp up games to get into the groove again)

[Pewterschmidt]

3 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

2) KK is going to be your best shot to win games down the stretch.  There's concern this team might have some 'must win' games to close out the season to make the playoffs, you're going to want KK.  You'll look absolutely foolish if you dont make the playoffs by 1-2 points and have a Kaprizov sitting on the shelf. 

Great take Mr C.  Hadn't thought of or heard this before.

[Pewterschmidt]

3 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

1) BillyG looked at the rental market and didnt want to overpay.

I don't give bill this much credit

[Scalptrash]

On 3/20/2025 at 8:51 AM, IllicitFive said:

What gods did this team anger?

None, it's the MN curse. Only the Twins have broken it and that was decades ago. Well, that and the NHL will never allow the Wild to win a cup. Not enough revenue for the league.

[Scalptrash]

On 3/20/2025 at 9:12 AM, mnfaninnc said:

Blues and Canucks are battling for 1 spot. We've just got to stay ahead of that battle, and keeping that 8 point lead.

The Blues will pass the Wild. Much hotter and healthier team with a more favorable schedule. It's all up to Vancouver and Calgary and how bad they want in. The Wild can be caught and bumped. Especially if you add Rossi to the injury list and the others aren't back fairly soon. It doesn't sound like they will be, so the door is open.