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Breathe, Wild fans. Kirill Kaprizov is locked up for the foreseeable future.
Minnesota’s Calder Trophy winner, who led all NHL rookies in goals and points last season, signed a five-year, $ 45 million contract Tuesday on the eve of training camp. the NHL, which begins Wednesday with media day and Thursday with ice practice.
Kaprizov will be in attendance for media day on Wednesday and is expected to be on the ice Thursday morning when the Wild officially begin training camp. More importantly, when the Wild open the regular season on Oct. 15 against the Anaheim Ducks.
“Of course I’m so happy,” Kaprizov said moments after stepping off the plane with Wild General Manager Bill Guerin in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Tuesday evening. “It’s good for me, it’s good for the team. Now I just wanna play hockey and [be with] my teammates and I just play hockey.
Guerin never panicked this summer as questions over Kaprizov’s status grew louder and louder.
“It’s going to fend for itself,” was Guerin’s common refrain, from June and July, until last weekend, when Guerin was again asked to update.
“Honestly, I have nothing new to tell you,” Guérin said on Sunday. “I would tell you, but I really don’t have anything.”
After a 3.5-hour flight from Florida, just him and Kaprizov, Guerin said he was also anxious for the conversation to now return to ice.
“We had a lot of time to talk and go through a lot of stuff,” Guerin said. “The only thing that rings true is that this kid just wants to play hockey, and he’s so excited to be back. We couldn’t be happier.
Video: Raw video: Krill Kaprizov lands in Minnesota
Neither did Kaprizov, who jumped off the plane with a huge smile on his face. After chatting with a reporter, Kaprizov dealt with a quick social media request by announcing his return, even winking unsolicited on camera.
Kaprizov said he has heard from several of his teammates in recent days eager to find him in the mix ahead of the season.
“I spoke to them tonight, everyone texted me and said, ‘Congratulations, we’re happy,’ Kaprizov said. ‘And I said,’ Thank you, I’m happy too. ‘”
Everyone’s joy is well founded.
Kaprizov took the NHL by storm in a shortened 56-game season in which the rookie played in each of the first 55 games.
He led the Wild and NHL rookies with 51 points, including 27 goals, in 55 games. He also outscored League rookies in goals, tied goals (19), power-play goals (8) and shots on goal (157), tied for first in overtime goals ( 2), second for assists, even strength points (38) and power play points (13),
According to NHL stats, the 5-foot-11, 201-pound forward is one of four rookies since 1992-93 to lead a team in regular season scoring and playoff qualifying: Auston Matthews (2016-17), Filip Forsberg (2014-15) and Trent Hunter (2003-04).
Kaprizov also led the Wild in goals, power-play goals and even strength points, was tied for first at the club in even strength goals, was second in power-play points and shots on goal. goal. His 18:18 ice time per game also led all of the Wild forwards.
For his efforts, Kaprizov was named the winner of the Calder 2020-21 Memorial Trophy on June 29, receiving 99 of 100 votes for first place. In doing so, he became the first Wild player to win the award.
Selected by Minnesota in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Kaprizov is the 10th Calder Memorial Trophy winner since 1970 to be drafted in the fifth round or later of the NHL Draft.
“It’s a big day for our organization and for Kirill personally, for us as a team to have him back in the mix before training camp starts,” Guerin said. “Everything is positive. It has been a long process as we know, but everything is fine. We are impatient now.”
The belief was that the representation of the Wild and Kaprizov had been close to the terms of the deal for some time, and that it was just a matter of working out the final details.
The start of training camp served as a useful – and obvious – book ending in the offseason to bring both parties back to the table, which has happened in recent days. Whatever gaps need to be filled, they have been filled, and attention can now turn to hockey.
“Of course, of course. I want to play and I want to win,” Kaprizov said. “Everyone is happy. It’s a good feeling.”
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