Article: Can Kirill Kaprizov Become the Wild's First Hall of Famer?

[Robert Brent]

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[MNCountryLife]

Yes, he can absolutely make the HOF.   The #1 reason IMO is his level of compete that he brings every single night and it brings results.   

[Citizen Strife]

It's going to be very tough without any playoff success.  People remember winners.  A Cup pretty much guarantees it though.

But what person thinks the Wild are anywhere close to Cup contention?  Gonna be a while.

 

[Scalptrash]

It's too bad it took so long to get him over here. That may end up hurting him in the long run.

[Sam]

22 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

But what person thinks the Wild are anywhere close to Cup contention?

 

Ooh, me, me, me! Pick me! 🖐️

[MNCountryLife]

21 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

But what person thinks the Wild are anywhere close to Cup contention?  Gonna be a while.

I think we are closer this year than last year.  I'm hopeful of the additions of Tara, Sturm, Ohgren, Yurov, Buium and Jiricek.  I have concerns about Tara and Zuc producing and Rossi signing.  I view those 3 as rounding out our top 6 and I'm not sure any of them deserve that accolade this year.

A well coached team that brings along the young guys quickly will go a long ways to pushing us past the 1st round.  We also must get better in special team play or we are an easy bounce in the 1st round.

[raithis]

1 hour ago, Scalptrash said:

It's too bad it took so long to get him over here. That may end up hurting him in the long run.

Maybe.  Maybe not. 

If he had gotten over here sooner, he may not have all the international awards to his name and he may not have been developed enough to win the Calder as a rookie.  It wasn't like he ran away with it like there was no competition.

Yes, he might have more points, but it might be at the cost of some of those other awards.  That could also have hurt him in the long run. 

It also could have hurt him in general.  He's gotten injured a couple times for long stretches.  If he would have come into the league sooner, he may not have been developed enough to be where he's at now.

Of course, that's why only so few players are inducted.  A lot of players just can't do all that for the long run.  Let's hope he can and he does it in a Wild jersey.

Edited August 5 by raithis

[Patrick]

3 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

 

But what person thinks the Wild are anywhere close to Cup contention?  Gonna be a while.

 

It depends on what you mean by close.  I think we are currently one elite piece away.  

Lets say we had traded for Elias Pettersson and regains his form from a few years ago.  To me that is enough.

Unfortunately, I don't see us acquiring a player like that anytime soon...

 

[goenzoy]

3 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

I have concerns about Tara and Zuc producing and Rossi signing.  I

It is not even certain if they will make the play-off 

Last season they would have missed it without the points from the first 20 games much better than season average afterwards in 62 games .

Same goes for home record . So producing might be not the biggest concern . More injuries .Would be surprised if Tara or Zuc play more then 65 games . And Rossi might not play at all or only part of season for Wild

[MNCountryLife]

2 minutes ago, goenzoy said:

It is not even certain if they will make the play-off 

Last season they would have missed it without the points from the first 20 games much better than season average afterwards in 62 games .

Same goes for home record . So producing might be not the biggest concern . More injuries .Would be surprised if Tara or Zuc play more then 65 games . And Rossi might not play at all or only part of season for Wild

No doubt the team still has serious depth issues and injuries have a way of derailing a team that has depth issues.  I think Tara is already feeling the age factor and Zuc is definitely getting up there in age.  I think Rossi will sign.  He doesn't have much choice.  

But in the end I think there are other teams with way more issues than us and we should squeeze in as a wild card without too much trouble.  The question becomes where in the seeding that we end up.  

Cup Contender?  Edmonton, Colorado, Vegas, Winnepeg and Dallas are going to be difficult teams to get past in the playoffs.   I don't have that kind of confidence in this roster.

[goenzoy]

29 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

I think Tara is already feeling the age factor and Zuc is definitely getting up there in age.  I think Rossi will sign.  He doesn't have much choice.  

Also think that it is more likely that Rossi will sign but no where near 100% certainty.Essentially he is on the way out just a question when he is leaving .

But more focus should be on > 30 year old players.

Zucc will be 38 in 25 days from now 

 

[MacGyver]

I think we should probably get him signed before we put him in the HOF in a Wild jersey. 🤔

[SkolWild73]

2 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

Cup Contender?  Edmonton, Colorado, Vegas, Winnepeg and Dallas are going to be difficult teams to get past in the playoffs.   I don't have that kind of confidence in this roster.

You are probably right, but since I am always optimistic, I think we do have a shot.  We will need to avoid the injury bug, and almost all the first-year players will have to perform, but if they do, we should have a much better record than last year.  I also think that our PP and PK will be better this year and that should help.

Also, outside of Vegas adding Marner, those other teams did not do much to improve their rosters.  Edmonton will probably always be a contender with McDavid and Draisaitl, but they had some turnover.  Winnipeg lost Ehlers, Dallas lost some players and do not have the depth they once had.  If everything goes right, we could contend for the division.  

Extreme optimist point of view I know, but 112 points and a 53-23-6 record.

Edited August 5 by SkolWild73

[1Brotherbill]

100% a Hall of Fame member.

If he stays in Minnesota and produces at the rate he is producing.  Reason being that there isn't a single member from Minnesota in the Hall of Fame.  At some point you have to put someone in the Hall of Fame from the franchise. 

Will it be worthy?  Not sure on that.  1000 points and constantly in the Hart Trophy conversation wouldn't be a black mark.  Winning the Cup isn't a prerequisite, it helps but there are players all over the Hall of Fame that never sniffed the Stanley Cup.  

I think being the best player in Minnesota Wild History by a large margin will give him a Hall of Fame ticket. 

[0 Stanley Cups]

16 hours ago, Patrick said:

It depends on what you mean by close.  I think we are currently one elite piece away.  

 

Very true, BG has made some nice smaller moves that have worked out, but hasn't made a big time acquisition yet, especially at center.  Once he does, he knows he'll be under a microscope, so he's reluctant.

[ArizonaWildFan]

18 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

Edmonton, Colorado, Vegas, Winnepeg and Dallas are going to be difficult teams to get past in the playoffs

I think that overall the West has gotten better this off season and I don't know if the Wild necessarily have. Utah, San Jose and Anaheim potentially look like being contenders for playoff spots this season. The Wild need a lot of things to work in their favor this season and they can't afford substantial injuries or sub par net minding if they are going to punch a ticket to the playoffs. As it sits right now, I am inclined to see this team being trade deadline sellers rather than playoff contenders. If that's the case and Kaprizov has not signed an extension you can say good-bye and good luck to him. Sorry for the negativity but...

[MNCountryLife]

7 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

As it sits right now, I am inclined to see this team being trade deadline sellers rather than playoff contenders.

I get that as well.  Some teams get better through trades.  Some through the draft.  BG appears to be betting on the draft.  He is bringing in several new kids this year to compete.  Players like Boldy, Rossi, Faber will need to continue their assent.  Players like Yurov, Ohgren, Jiricek, Buium and Wall will need to step in and do more than just show they belong.  Trusting that hopeful improvement can be difficult but very rewarding.  Let's hope the young guys carry this team.