Minnesota Wild: Top 10 Prospects Entering the 2018 Season

1. Kirill Kaprizov, LW [21] (5-135, 2015)

Stats (CSKA Moskva, KHL): 46 gp, 15 g, 25 a, 40 p, 5 PPG, 6 GWG, 97 SOG, .87 pts/g (19 pgp, 2 g, 8 a, 10 p, 1 GWG, 40 SOG, .53 pts/g). T-19 goal scoring, T-14 assists, T-37 goal scoring; T-17 playoff scoring, T-6 assists

Kirill Kaprizov is the one impact prospect the Minnesota Wild for sure has. He played in the second-best league in the world and was one of the very best players there. At 21, he was a standout in the KHL, and he shows signs of only growing. The biggest problem the Minnesota Wild face with him: bringing him over to the NHL. They’ll have to do a lot of work in convincing him to join the team, especially versus playing with one of the best teams back home.

What the Minnesota Wild can offer him, however, is better than what other teams can. At left wing, the two best players the Wild have are Parise, now 34 and seemingly perpetually injured, and Jason Zucker. Zucker is more of a second-line player and as he ages, Parise may need to take on a lesser role, especially as the Wild need him to stay healthy. Therefore, the Wild can offer Kaprizov an extended chance to play first line left wing with a very fine center in Staal. The chance to earn great money in the finest hockey league in the world should be enough to bring Kaprizov over.

Kaprizov was tied for 19th in scoring, 14th in assists, and 37th in goal scoring. In the playoffs, he was tied for 17th in scoring and sixth in assists. He’s an excellent playmaker, and he’s someone the Minnesota Wild truly need. He could be their Artemi Panarin, someone to pair with a right wing like Granlund or in the future possibly Kunin and get the most out of that player. Kaprizov is the prospect with the highest ceiling, the most NHL readiness, and should be the most desired by the Wild. Bringing him over should be their focus.