The Wild Have Unleashed Kaprizov When They Need Him Most

The 2024-25 season has been exciting all year long. It has brought some of the most memorable hockey moments of the last decade. Feats like Alex Ovechkin overtaking Wayne Gretzky in goals or Mikko Rantanen being traded twice in the same year have made for an unforgettable season that will likely lead to a fantastic postseason. 

However, with all the excitement around the league, it's easy to forget about the seasons some players could have had if they hadn't gotten injured. Kirill Kaprizov is a good example. Now with four goals and seven points in three playoff games, Kaprizov is picking up where he left off in December. 

Kaprizov is tied with Adrian Kempe and Cam Fowler for the most points this postseason, and tied with only one player for the most goals: Matt Boldy. The two wingers are playing out of their minds on the top line, and Vegas is struggling to find an answer.

The Past

Before being injured in late December, Kaprizov had scored 23 goals and 50 points in 34 games this season, taking a massive leap in his career. Kaprizov successfully led a dominant first-place Wild club while being in the Hart Trophy conversation. 

While Kaprizov returned for a quick stint in January, his injuries seemed more serious than expected, and he would require surgery. 

Fast forward to the last four games of the regular season, and Minnesota fans continued to grow restless as they awaited the return of their superstar, Kirill Kaprizov. While Kaprizov had an entertaining return in which he scored three points and the OT winner in a victory over the San Jose Sharks, their 7-8 win didn’t instill much confidence in the Wild leading into the playoffs. 

Even though the Wild had tried to maintain the look of a playoff team, the three remaining games of the season were also disappointing. Minnesota’s inability to secure a playoff spot until their 82nd game felt like a first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights would be an insurmountable obstacle. 

The Present

Although Kaprizov’s return was lackluster in the regular season, as soon as the postseason began, Kaprizov looked like the player he was in November. Kaprizov once again seems to be taking his game to the next level, this time in the playoffs. While the Wild have looked streaky through the first round, Kaprizov has been red hot. In two games, Kaprizov is tied for first in the NHL in postseason points with five and is scoring at an average of 7.17 points per 60 minutes. 

There is no reason to expect the first line to slow down either. With Boldy and Kaprizov’s newfound chemistry, the pair has a combined 13 points. However, a big concern in the playoffs is overworking your star players. Plus, even though Minnesota is leading the series, Vegas won’t go down without a fight. The rest of the series will be extremely physically demanding, and Kaprizov’s health is a concern. 

So, if the Wild’s bottom three lines can continue to find ways to generate secondary scoring, they no longer need to play top-heavy, meaning Kaprizov and Boldy won’t need to take as many shifts. Therefore, keeping Minnesota’s players fresh and using our big bodies, like Yakov Trenin, Marcus Foligno, and Justin Brazeau, to take on more minutes will be crucial for success.

Although the extra scoring is nice, Kaprizov is more than ready to carry this team on his back. The intensity that emanates from the 27-year-old Russian during the playoffs is almost impossible to put into words. He plays faster than everyone around him, always a few steps ahead of the defense. Kaprizov’s highlight passing play from the Wild’s victory on Tuesday is proof of why he’s become something the NHL has never seen before. 

Halfway through the first period, Kaprizov collects a blocked shot. Looking up ice, he sees a streaking Boldy who has gotten a leg up on Shea Theadore through center ice. Kaprizov makes a perfect saucer pass that lands perfectly on Boldy’s stick for a breakaway, who beats Adin Hill far side to put the Wild up 1-0.

Kaprizov’s pass to Boldy shocked Vegas, leading to the scoring of three more uncontested goals. Though the Wild struggled to put the game away, Kaprizov's dominant night saw him score two goals and an assist. More importantly, it taught the Golden Knights to take the Wild seriously.

The Future

The Wild and the Golden Knights have one more game in St. Paul before flying back to Vegas. With Minnesota leading the series 2-1, the Wild and their fans should feel pretty good. They have looked streaky through three games, but the Wild’s first line has shown flashes of a dangerous offensive force that could eliminate the Knights. 

While the Wild’s success is a group effort, Kaprizov has taken a step up in his game and has the potential to carry the team deep into the playoffs. The Wild have home-ice advantage for one more game, giving Kaprizov the perfect opportunity to help the team make a statement win, and have a chance to eliminate Vegas in their stadium. 

With his confidence building and a team starting to find its groove, Kaprizov is helping turn the Wild into real contenders.