Where Did the Wild Players Go On Vacation For All-Star Break?

It’s that time of year that NHL players look forward to (most of them, at least) and NHL fans dread. The All-Star Break started for Minnesota Wild fans before most of the other teams, probably in a trade-off for the tight schedule the team endured in Sweden. This year, Minnesota got 11 days off. So, while Wild fans twiddle our thumbs, let’s look at vacation destinations.

Kirill at the All-Star Games

First of all, let’s pour one out for Kirill Kaprizov who, for the third year in a row, is not only at the All-Star Games instead of on vacation, but this year it isn’t even somewhere warm. While it looks like he and his girlfriend have made the most of it and gone skiing, Toronto still isn’t the best vacation spot in February. (Let me say that I’m assuming Kaprizov has also been skiing because Stesha certainly has been. They’re very good at not posting each other on social media.)

This year, Kaprizov will not be participating in the Skills Competition again. Last year, he somehow tricked Kevin Fiala into taking his slot in the Fastest Skater Competition and just hung out with the other Russian players instead. However, the NHL structured it in the worst way possible this year so that only a handful of the 32 teams are represented. So Kaprizov not only had to take his vacation in Canada but also didn’t even get the chance to participate if he wanted to.

Group Vacay in Turks and Caicos

Last year, Matt Dumba was the one to set up a team vacation that almost everyone participated in. Since he’s moved on to Arizona, Brandon Duhaime took the liberty of setting up a trip that many players took advantage of: Duhaime, Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Hartman, Alex Goligoski, Jared Spurgeon, Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and Jake Middleton. 

Looking at social media, it looks like they’ve been busy having fun in the sun. Boat rides, swimming in the ocean, and relaxing in the shade have all been featured activities. Sounds like a great break from temperamental Minnesota weather.

Solo Trip to Cancun

Rookie Marco Rossi and his girlfriend took a trip to Cancun, just the two of them. With her most likely living in Austria most of the time, it makes sense for them to take a trip without other friends.

Like his teammates in Turks and Caicos, Rossi has been relaxing poolside, getting massages, and having candlelit dinners. Again, another good break in a warm climate.

Maroon Back to Florida

It appears that Pat Maroon and his family traveled back to Florida for a good trip to their previous home. They’ve been visiting old friends and swimming in the pool.

Part of the Swedish Mafia Vacay Together

Perpetual Swedish besties Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin posted a picture of them on some sort of a nature hike. It was tagged in Costa Rica. Someone else was taking the picture. Could they possibly have another player traveling with them? Who knows. 

Stayed in Minnesota?

None of these are confirmed, but a few players most likely didn’t travel far or, perhaps, at all. Marcus Foligno and his wife are expecting a baby to be born very soon. There is no chance that they traveled more than an hour at home if they went anywhere at all.

Vinni Lettieri was pictured participating in hockey practice with the University of Minnesota, his alma mater. It isn’t known if he spent part of the break elsewhere, though.

Unaccounted For Players

• As of Friday, here are the players who haven’t posted about specific vacation plans:
• Mats Zuccarello (perhaps Florida?)
• Marcus Johansson (somewhere warm, but nothing specific)
• Zach Bogosian (unknown)
• Connor Dewar (unknown, but I’d assume with Duhaime if he went anywhere)
• Freddy Gaudreau (maybe in Turks and Caicos?)
• Dakota Mermis (unknown)
• Jon Merrill (unknown)
• Adam Raska (unknown)
• Filip Gustavsson (unknown, maybe home with Baby Gus Bus? Last year, he and his wife went skiing)

Hope for Kaprizov’s Vacation

There doesn’t have to be a lot of worry about Kaprizov not getting a vacation. During the off-season last year, Kaprizov traveled all over the place before coming back to start training again. But next year, he should get a vacation. The NHL announced that instead of an All-Star Game, they would be doing a 4 Nations Face-Off, and Russia was not one of the countries involved. So he’ll get to go somewhere warm no matter where other NHLers have to go.