Article: Is Kirill Kaprizov Trying To Do Too Much For The Wild?

[Thomas Williams]

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[mnfaninnc]

Quote

It's no secret that the Minnesota Wild are essentially Kirill Kaprizov. Where he goes, they go. With some early-season struggles in all three zones (and especially at 5-on-5) that lead to losing possession of the puck just so easily, is Kaprizov trying to do too much? Does he feel the pressure to do absolutely everything to will his team back in the win column, and it's leading to defensive lapses?

As I was watching the Winnipeg game, and Kaprizov was showing fumble after fumble, I had a theory: Is this part of the Johansson affect? Johansson has been productive the last 3 games, yet his goals aren't necessarily coming from Kaprizov, they're coming off PP2. Playing with Kaprizov usually helps any other player bank points. But what does that do to Kaprizov? Is he trying to do too much on that line because he knows what Johansson can and cannot provide? 

IIRC, when he got his goal, Boldy was on his wing, maybe not for the whole shift but he was in the scrum too. Could it be that Kaprizov will be more productive (as will Boldy) if they are playing on the same line? From the eye test, Hynes spreading the production around has led to 2 lines being mediocre. 

One more piece of evidence is that Kaprizov loves to get into the zone and do some east-west passing, very quick passing. Playing with Johansson, Johansson typically skates himself out of the east-west passing lane and that pass is just a turnover. I'm not sure what happens in the defensive zone, but we're seeing Kaprizov very vulnerable to turnovers there too. 

The theory will be named the Johansson affect.

Pewter can come up with the drinking game for actually seeing this affect in game. You can play it with any of Johansson's linemates.

[Will D. Ness]

KK97 is definitely off his game.  It makes me wonder if the contract is a little too heavy?  He now has something to prove individually whereas before he did not.

Maybe it is playing with Nojo?  It seems like the first line has embraced the Nojo apathy and it is disgusting to watch.  I'm going to be pulling out pitchforks and torches and calling for Heinz' head if he doesn't fix these lines soon.

[OldDutchChip]

I’d play these lines today 

L1 Kap Boldy Harty(c)

L2 Ek (c) Rossi (w) Zeev (w)

L3 Trenin Yurov (c) Hinny

No line 4 - tell them to take the day off (vlady and johy can be waived) 

D mix up to whatever you want

Brodin, Faber, Spurge, Midds, Hunt, Best of our D prospect from IA, Bogo (injured or not)

send Jiri down (w Johy and Vlady)

G - Wally 

If we loose - fire Hynes and trade away everyone but Kap and Boldy

my prediction - wild 7 - 0

Kap scores 5

[Enforceror]

31 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

I’d play these lines today 

L1 Kap Boldy Harty(c)

L2 Ek (c) Rossi (w) Zeev (w)

L3 Trenin Yurov (c) Hinny

No line 4 - tell them to take the day off (vlady and johy can be waived) 

D mix up to whatever you want

Brodin, Faber, Spurge, Midds, Hunt, Best of our D prospect from IA, Bogo (injured or not)

send Jiri down (w Johy and Vlady)

G - Wally 

If we loose - fire Hynes and trade away everyone but Kap and Boldy

my prediction - wild 7 - 0

Kap scores 5

Why would you put Zeev on the wing?

[OldDutchChip]

5 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Why would you put Zeev on the wing?

He can play there till he learns how to defend