Kirill Kaprizov

[franklin]

Wild prospect with a solid start in the KHL. 7G - 10A for 17pts in 27GP.

Drafted by Minnesota Wild in round 5 last June. Steal?

[ericdaoust]

Any prospect drafted that late that makes the NHL is a steal. Even with Kaprizov's good start there's still a lot of story to be written. Too early to tell.

[franklin]

Any prospect drafted that late that makes the NHL is a steal. Even with Kaprizov's good start there's still a lot of story to be written. Too early to tell.

For sure this is too early. But those numbers are impressive. I think he is already the 4th highest scoring 18 year old in the KHL history.

At 18:

Kuznetsov 32pts in 44GP
Tarasenko 19pts in 42GP

[SeaDawg]

I read reports during the Minnesota prospect camp that he was incredibly impressive and was one of the best, if not the best, players at the camp.

In addition to high-end skills, what everyone seems to like about him is that he doesn't play a finesse game. Apparently he plays a lot like Parise, and isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas to score a goal.

I drafted him in a couple of leagues and am very excited to see him in North America in a year or two.

[franklin]

I read reports during the Minnesota prospect camp that he was incredibly impressive and was one of the best, if not the best, players at the camp.

In addition to high-end skills, what everyone seems to like about him is that he doesn't play a finesse game. Apparently he plays a lot like Parise, and isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas to score a goal.

I drafted him in a couple of leagues and am very excited to see him in North America in a year or two.

He seems to be built like Parise for sure 5.10 - 192lbs as per Eliteprospect.

[chuckcouples]

Kaprizov was also Russia's best player at the Ivan Hlinka. He was also drafted 1st overall in the KHL draft. He is currently playing on the top line on his KHL which is very impressive for an 18 year old.

He was also the first russian drafted by the Chuck Fletcher/Brent Flahr era in Minnesota who had made a point up until that time of never drafting russians. The Wild are very high on him.

[StuntMan12]

any chance this guy comes to the nhl in the next year or so? what does he project to be?

[chuckcouples]

My understanding is that Kaprizov signed a 3 year deal in the KHL last summer. That means he has two years left on his contract over there. I have no idea if he has an out clause of any sort. I do know that the Wild's management really like him and are expecting big things. The Wild drafted Dmitry Sokolov in the 7th round likely as incentive to bring Kaprizov to North America. The two are former linemates.