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  • The Wild Are Making A Powerful Statement By Giving Kaprizov the 'A'


    Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA Today Sports
    Tony Abbott

    Kirill Kaprizov is an Alternate Captain for the Minnesota Wild. That's good news, because now you have an answer for this (totally optional) Sporcle Quiz. As of Tuesday morning, there are 105 Captains and Alternate Captains in the NHL. If you don't have time to do homework in the middle of your day, let me reveal my score: 68 of 105. That works out to be 65%, or exactly average, according to Sporcle's stats.

    Let's break that down further. For Captains, I got 23 of the 27 teams that have designated a player as such, or 85%. Solid number, though since the Captaincy often belongs to the team's best player, perhaps expected. For the remaining 78 Alternates, I guessed 45 of them, or a kinda-embarrassing 58%.

    Let me assure you, dear readers, I worked my ass off for that 58%. I tried some real Hail Marys, such as I wonder if Zemgus Girgensons is still in the league. or Wait, would the New York Islanders actually have Cal Clutterbuck as their only alternate captain? In both cases, yes. The season starts tonight, so I gave it max effort.

    All this is to say: I have a hard time caring about who does and doesn't wear a letter. And if your score is anything like mine, you probably do, too. That isn't to say that leadership can't matter, or who wears a letter can't. But likely, it only matters in extreme circumstances, such as an extremely toxic situation.

    You might have liked Joel Eriksson Ek or Jonas Brodin in the role instead. Both are great, crucial players and by all accounts great people. But in all likelihood, it doesn't matter which player gets the nod. No other coach, GM, or fan base is going to look at this and say Oh, they messed up, or, We're in trouble now. Chances are, they won't think about it.

    Still, Minnesota made the right choice to elevate Kaprizov into the role. Is he deserving? Absolutely. Again, a team's best players tend to get leadership roles more often than not. Kaprizov indisputably qualifies as the best player on the team, and probably is the best in franchise history.

    Furthermore, team observers know that Kaprizov drives winning. Sure, the Wild rattled off an 8-1-2 record immediately after Kaprizov got hurt in March. But in the big picture, Minnesota's only been relevant because of Kaprizov's magic. He put the State of Hockey on the map.

    But those aren't the reasons it's important to give Kaprizov a letter. Unless the Wild's farm system spits out another Kaprizov-level superstar (pretty unlikely!), their long-term fortunes hinge on whether or not "Dolla Bill Kirill" sticks around. If giving him a letter helps the Wild do that, then this decision was as easy as it gets.

    Sure, any hockey commentator will tell you that a player doesn't need a letter to lead their team. That's true. But giving a letter is a symbol, a statement from the team: This is yours. You are one of the three most important players on this team.

    That's a powerful statement. Maybe not as powerful as the truckload of money that Minnesota will surely offer Kaprizov to stay, but it represents a different type of buy-in from the team. Giving him that kind of emotional investment in Minnesota and his teammates is smart to do at this juncture.

    Kaprizov has three more years under contract, but that factoid makes this position look more secure for the Wild than it really is. Next year, Kaprizov receives a full no-move clause that effectively gives him the power to choose his destination. He may or may not use it, but he will have the ability to engineer a trade to another team.

    The Wild can't be caught in a situation where they're forced to either let him walk at the end of his deal, or let him dictate what team he goes to. It's hard enough for any player who trades a star player to recoup fair value. Draft picks and prospects are rarely going to turn into a Kaprizov-type asset. Add a deflated market that comes with only having one suitor? It's a disaster.

    Artemi Panarin is the obvious parallel. He put the Columbus Blue Jackets through that exact situation in 2019. The Blue Jackets risked letting Panarin walk and lost him for the price of 10 playoff games and a first-round series win. They made it to the 24-team playoff field the next year, won a Qualifying Round, and haven't been back to the postseason since.

    Like the Wild, the Blue Jackets were also a team in a market outside the NHL's elite destinations. However, they did not invest in Panarin as part of the leadership of the Blue Jackets. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered; Panarin didn't come up through the Columbus organization. He didn't have much time to get invested emotionally in the team, even with a letter.

    But if you're Minnesota, why wouldn't you pull out all the stops, and do it as soon as possible? Between entrenching him in the leadership group and keeping his best friend Mats Zuccarello in the fold through the end of the contract, Minnesota's doing that. Beyond Kaprizov's leadership, beyond any other on-ice considerations, this is the real reason why the Wild are making the right choice for their Alternate Captaincy.

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    I believe our core and our locker room presence for each individual player is not about what's on your chest in a letter. There are many who are deemed informal leaders and those that lead by example. This is truly a value and while it is important to have a leadership group, these guys are obviously in it all together in this culture, no matter who wears the letter.

    KK is never about himself and it was evident he is happy to represent his team with an "A". Did he have to have a letter, I don't believe it mattered to him. Will he represent if asked, he'll do anything for his team. Watching his presser, which he was able to discuss his reactions and expectations, he made sure to clarify anything he didn't understand using his interpreter.

    This is a win, win, as KK has now been given more responsibility and with his lead by example way, he'll interject himself more which will lead to a well rounded player for the Wild. He noted that the officials would never talk to him before, now he has an opportunity to be the spokesman on the ice.

    If his nonverbal actions are anything like his verbal, we're gonna get our money's worth. Will it help to keep him here in the end? I would say it is more about a fair value contract, compete on the team, depth and talent on this team and not about any letter, but it will help in his investment.

    Our leadership core of Spurgeon, Foligno and Kaprizov is sure to turn over again with Spurgeon and Foligno. I would love to see Kaprizov become "C" when Spurgeon is done, and Ek replace KK's "A" or Moose, and Faber pull the other "A" with the transition.

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    I don't like the delayed start for the Wild, playing on the 3rd night of the season. Seems kind of ridiculous that Chicago will have 2 games played before several teams have their first.

    I do like Kaprizov getting the A, though I certainly would have been fine with JEE.  Eriksson Ek was the next choice apparently since he will be wearing the A while Spurgeon is out of the lineup.

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    Do the players believe in the symbolism? I think many of them do.

    Had Kaprizov been wearing an A in last year's playoffs, does anyone think that the constant crosschecks to the back would have been met with more fury? Maybe not with the group from last year, but I do think this year Maroon will make a difference. 

    I'm not sure, though, that it will take an A for Maroon to insert himself. Just by being the best player, I'd think Maroon will go after just about anyone to protect him. I would hope that it is just not Maroon who goes after a guy, though. 

    In the preseason, we saw Dewar go after Johnson (Chicago) after Dewar legally checked him. Johnson didn't like it after running around hitting anything that moved earlier. Dewar took him on in what looked like giving up about 4" and 20 lbs. 

    When Moose goes hard into the corners, he does this not only as Moose, but with that A as part of the leadership of the team. Landeskog would do the same thing when leading the Avs and stapling Spurgeon to the corner boards. I do think it matters to the players, and anyone who wants to challenge a lettered individual knows the rest of that team is coming after him. 

    I do worry about Kaprizov talking to the officials, and am not sure, yet, that his control of English is good enough to express himself. But, his play has gained the respect of referees around the league, so perhaps they will be patient. 

    Now, where does this fit in big picture? We have 3 guys who have a chance to come over from the K (I've included Firstov who is progressing pretty well). I have no idea how their English is either, but as an A, Kaprizov can help communicate to them what needs to be done. It may be subtle, but it appears as if the Wild are preparing for the influx of the Russians.

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    7 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    Do the players believe in the symbolism? I think many of them do.

    Had Kaprizov been wearing an A in last year's playoffs, does anyone think that the constant crosschecks to the back would have been met with more fury? Maybe not with the group from last year, but I do think this year Maroon will make a difference. 

    I'm not sure, though, that it will take an A for Maroon to insert himself. Just by being the best player, I'd think Maroon will go after just about anyone to protect him. I would hope that it is just not Maroon who goes after a guy, though. 

    In the preseason, we saw Dewar go after Johnson (Chicago) after Dewar legally checked him. Johnson didn't like it after running around hitting anything that moved earlier. Dewar took him on in what looked like giving up about 4" and 20 lbs. 

    When Moose goes hard into the corners, he does this not only as Moose, but with that A as part of the leadership of the team. Landeskog would do the same thing when leading the Avs and stapling Spurgeon to the corner boards. I do think it matters to the players, and anyone who wants to challenge a lettered individual knows the rest of that team is coming after him. 

    I do worry about Kaprizov talking to the officials, and am not sure, yet, that his control of English is good enough to express himself. But, his play has gained the respect of referees around the league, so perhaps they will be patient. 

    Now, where does this fit in big picture? We have 3 guys who have a chance to come over from the K (I've included Firstov who is progressing pretty well). I have no idea how their English is either, but as an A, Kaprizov can help communicate to them what needs to be done. It may be subtle, but it appears as if the Wild are preparing for the influx of the Russians.

    Maroon = PAPPA MOOSE :classic_cool:

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    2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

    Had Kaprizov been wearing an A in last year's playoffs, does anyone think that the constant crosschecks to the back would have been met with more fury? Maybe not with the group from last year, but I do think this year Maroon will make a difference. 

    Just like Reaves was last year just like Deslauriers was gonna the year before. 

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    24 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

    Just like Reaves was last year just like Deslauriers was gonna the year before. 

    Reaves was all about the TALK n SHOW, nothing more to get his mug on TNT and secure his next gig when everyone figures out he's not needed anymore. At least DeLo had an excuse as he was injured and mixed it up plenty before that blood/guts...

    Maroon is a winner and a repeat Cup winner, he is the complete package, can actually be a threat at net front, takes no shit, doesn't let anything linger or get misunderstood, he deals with it NOW. Complete different class of player than the clowns in Reaves and oft injured DeLo.

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    5 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

    We have 3 guys who have a chance to come over from the K (I've included Firstov who is progressing pretty well). I have no idea how their English is either, but as an A, Kaprizov can help communicate to them

    I am pretty sure that Yurov was speaking English pretty well at development camp. Dino, I have no idea. And Fistov was going to school here in the states was he not?

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    1 hour ago, Up North Guy said:

    I am pretty sure that Yurov was speaking English pretty well at development camp. Dino, I have no idea. And Fistov was going to school here in the states was he not?

    Yes, he spent 3 years at UConn before he left for the Wild at the end of his junior season in 21-22 for a handful of games.

    One game last year before he left for Russia KHL. Torpedo on loan from Wild. I believe he played in Russia before UConn as a teen.

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    19 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    I don't like the delayed start for the Wild, playing on the 3rd night of the season. Seems kind of ridiculous that Chicago will have 2 games played before several teams have their first.

    I do like Kaprizov getting the A, though I certainly would have been fine with JEE.  Eriksson Ek was the next choice apparently since he will be wearing the A while Spurgeon is out of the lineup.

    The Bedard glazing from the NHL is crazy.

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    18 hours ago, vonlonster67 said:

    Reaves was all about the TALK n SHOW, nothing more to get his mug on TNT and secure his next gig when everyone figures out he's not needed anymore. At least DeLo had an excuse as he was injured and mixed it up plenty before that blood/guts...

    Maroon is a winner and a repeat Cup winner, he is the complete package, can actually be a threat at net front, takes no shit, doesn't let anything linger or get misunderstood, he deals with it NOW. Complete different class of player than the clowns in Reaves and oft injured DeLo.

    With Maroon, he seems to have a little different way of doing business. While Reaves would ask "do you want to go?" Maroon seems to back a guy off saying "we're gonna go!" and then drops the gloves and starts chucking. The opposite player can be called a coward or can drop his gloves and try to protect himself the best he can. Deslauriers seemed to be in the middle of these 2, and could skate faster than Reaves. 

    I think where Reaves' benefits came in were in some off ice stuff and in the locker room. But, Reaves had a problem actually chasing down people. It also seemed like he was late to arrive for hits and mostly just delivered glancing blows. 

    Maroon, to me, seems to have a shorter fuse, and is still quick/fast enough to track down someone while play is going on. He can do the faceoff drop, but he can also attack while play is going on. I realize he was heavily penalized last season, but not all PIMs are created equal. How many coincidental 2s did he take? How many 5s and 10s were in those PIMs? And then, he can chip in on offense better than either of the last 2. 

    We make fun of the '80s style here, but I like having an '80s mentality on the roster. I'd love to see him back Suter into a corner the 1st time we play Dallas, have some intense words followed by a face wash. Then, you follow that up with a heavy check in the corner to the same player to reinforce the words, followed by a glare that says "I know your number." At that point, it falls into Benn's hands as to what to do next, and Benn, I would think, want's no part of what Maroon can bring.

    This type of mentality is needed when we play the Blues, Nashville, and Winnipeg too. Not so much Colorado anymore, at least not until Landeskog returns (if ever). To get to the SCF, you have to go through the division and at least 1 of these teams. 

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    15 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

    I am pretty sure that Yurov was speaking English pretty well at development camp. Dino, I have no idea. And Fistov was going to school here in the states was he not?

    You're right about "Fistov" which should be his new nickname. Not so sure about Yurov. Was Kaprizov's Russian interpreter in camp?

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    28 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    I think where Reaves' benefits came in were in some off ice stuff and in the locker room. But, Reaves had a problem actually chasing down people. It also seemed like he was late to arrive for hits and mostly just delivered glancing blows. 

    Maroon, to me, seems to have a shorter fuse, and is still quick/fast enough to track down someone while play is going on. He can do the faceoff drop, but he can also attack while play is going on. I realize he was heavily penalized last season, but not all PIMs are created equal. How many coincidental 2s did he take? How many 5s and 10s were in those PIMs? And then, he can chip in on offense better than either of the last 2. 

    Far and away the biggest knock on Reaves last year was his total lack of speed. Felt bad for the Dewey's last year because it was essentially a 2 man show most of the time and Reaves provided very little backcheck support. 

    Admired Reaves for wanting to put someone through the boards and send a message but like you said he was almost always late and the other players could see him coming 2 miles away and dodge him. Maroon is not a speedster in his own right but is faster than Reaves and his offensive upside is much higher. 

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