The time is getting closer and closer, the Wild’s season is just around the corner. With that being said I must voice my opinion on one player who has yet to sign with the Wild and we all know who that is. Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild’s new superstar and soon to be face of the franchise has not made things easy on fans over the offseason, myself included. 

As soon as last season ended, I was anxiously awaiting the Wild to come out and say they had signed Kaprizov to a nice long lucrative deal that would keep him here for a very long time. Well, time went on and it was evident that a deal wouldn’t be signed as soon as I hoped for. So, it was time to focus on the other NHL events going on like the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, the NHL Entry Draft, and Free Agency. 

The Wild lost defenseman Carson Soucy to the Seattle Kraken and a few defensemen left during free agency as well and still no word about Kaprizov. There were some signings like Minnesota native Alex Gologoski who will bring something new to the defensive core with Ryan Suter gone but very little for offense. 

The one forward signing the Wild made was snatching Frédérick Gaudreau for the center position, one area that really needed work following the last season. Personally, I had some different players in mind but I’m also not the general manager of the Wild, and I trust what he’s up to even if it doesn’t seem to make sense at the moment. 

Gaudreau could be the one missing piece at the center position that the Wild have been lacking. The number one spot will most likely go to Joel Eriksson Ek but Gaudreau could also slide in there to help the transition by taking some of the shifts, and lightning the load so to speak. 

Back to the main topic of the day, even after free agency, Kaprizov had yet to sign. There were numerous rumors about offers from both the Wild and his native country of Russia but it’s hard to say what’s actually true and what is just rumor. I have tried to remain calm through this whole ordeal and keep in the back of my mind that he’ll sign with the Wild, it’s just going to take some time, but it’s starting to come down to the wire and makes me a little nervous. I still believe he’ll sign with us, I would just like it to be sooner rather than later. 

Now, many of you may be asking why I’m so concerned with him signing and acting like it’s the end of the world if he doesn’t. Well, he’s been a breath of fresh air to the Minnesota Wild that they haven’t had since the days of Marian Gaborik, no offense to the many great names that have worn a Wild jersey throughout the years but everyone knows there’s only been one Gaborik and thus far only one that has come close to him. 

Kaprizov has set a new tone for the Wild that even Gaborik didn’t reach. He’s a Calder Trophy winner and that is no easy task let alone doing it in a shortened COVID-19 protocol season that everyone was trying to figure out. He got through with better than flying colors and I couldn’t have been more excited for what the Wild’s future holds. He just needs to sign a contract. 

That’s easier said than done and you can’t blame him for holding out if it means more money. Sure, it sounds selfish to some but think about it. If it were you and you knew you could get more money by waiting a few days to a month, you’d more than likey choose to wait right? I know I more than likely would, especially if it was in millions of dollars. Now think about a 24-year-old rookie who just came off the best season a rookie in the NHL could have, he knows his worth. 

Now, just recently the Wild were able to sign his teammate Kevin Fiala to a deal and avoid going to an arbitration hearing. I’m hoping with his deal done and out of the way, that means the Wild will have time to figure out Kaprizov’s deal and it will be done soon. Then we can all look forward to the start of the season and hopefully an even better year for the Wild.