Kaprizov Joins Team MacKinnon for All-Star Weekend

Kirill Kaprizov might not be as excited for this year's All-Star Weekend as the time where he got to hangout with Alex Ovechkin and then pay homage to him in a the creative shootout, but he's there in Toronto regardless.

During Thursday night's All-Star Draft on the ice of Scotiabank Arena, Kaprizov was taken 11th overall and not by just anyone, but by divisional rival Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche star at least knows how dangerous he is and doesn't want to face him.

In other positive news, young stud blueliner Brock Faber has been playing even better than anyone could have expected and the 21-year-old could be realistically in the running for the Calder trophy.

Along his path to being crowned the top rookie of this NHL season, he has earned some other accolades and most recently, was named Rookie of the Month for January. Faber led all rookies with 11 assists and 13 points in 14 games during that timespan, as his offensive role has increased even further under John Hynes.

It does help that phenom Connor Bedard has been out with a long-term injury, but we will take the wins where we can get them.

That's Wild

• "If you wait long enough, you're out." The Wild's margin for error gets even smaller after the All-Star Break. It is a barely open window to the playoffs, so it seems like they have waited long enough. [The Hockey News]
• As we know now, prospect Marat Khusnutdinov might be making his way to Minnesota before the season is over. There are many positive things about this, but one thing is creating a reason to watch late-season Wild games. [Hockey Wilderness]

Off the trail...

• All-Star rosters, schedule, and how to watch. [ESPN]
• The four celebrity captains of the All-Star teams got to live their dreams on Thursday. [NHL dot com]
• Elias Lindholm certainly seems happy that trade rumors involving his name are over, as he starts his journey with the Vancouver Canucks after the break. [Sportsnet]
• One player that is getting his name in the rumor mill now is Philadelphia Flyers' Scott Laughton. A veteran center that could be just what some teams need. [Broad Street Hockey]