The Minnesota Wild were gaining steam, disaster came calling. Kirill Kaprizov is on the shelf yet again, as this time it’s surgery required for a lower-body injury that will shelf him for a minimum of four weeks. Losing their best player and leading scorer at an awful time within the NHL playoff races could prove to be more than a bummer for the Wilds.
Kaprizov had already missed 12 games earlier this season, and even after his return, he wasn’t at full strength. General manager Bill Guerin acknowledged that the superstar winger was playing at only 60 percent, yet he pushed through to help the team. But now, with no choice but to have surgery, the Wild must figure out how to survive without their most dominant player.
Did the Wild rush Kaprizov Back?
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In hindsight, the return of Kaprizov into the lineup always felt a little rushed, and now there are many doubters as to whether the Wild took the right route in allowing Kaprizov into game action prior to being fully healed. Prior to getting back on the ice, Kaprizov hadn’t taken to the ice since January 9 and came back rather quickly despite going on long-term injured reserve.
Kaprizov will be out for at least the next 4 weeks. pic.twitter.com/Qn9m9yDlTl
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 28, 2025
Coach John Hynes also admitted that even on the bench, Kaprizov was struggling to get through games, but still, he played significant minutes in three games before the surgery decision was made. The winger was initially listed as day-to-day before landing on LTIR ahead of finally getting the green light to return. Now, three games into his return, he’s back on the sidelines, this time with a much longer recovery ahead.
“It’s unfortunate,” said GM Guerin about the injury. “It’s disappointing for us, too, but we’ve put ourselves in a good position in the standings and the way we’re playing. … It’s not the end of the world.” While Guerin’s assessment of the situation may have some merit, the team may still miss Kaprizov. Why? Well, he was on pace for a 100-point season before his first absence and was still Minnesota’s top scorer with 23 goals and 52 points in 37 games.
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Wild fans react to Kaprizov’s injury: some frustrated, many worried
The fan reaction was immediate, and for many, this latest injury blow felt all too familiar. Some acknowledged how tough the Wild have been all season, battling through injuries and still remaining in playoff contention.“The #mnwild have been through so many injuries. Insane how they’ve held up this well. Props to them for having that next-man-up mentality.” While some did hold on to hope, others couldn’t look past the timing or the run of bad luck that just simply appears to keep on following Minnesota sports teams around. “Typical MN sports. Looks like we have a contender then our best player goes in for surgery. Seriously.”
But fans’ biggest frustration is how that injury was handled. Many pointed out that Kaprizov didn’t look fully recovered, and some feel the team rushed him back too soon, leading to a much worse situation. “Saw this coming. He got rushed. I swear he was week to week prior to the Utah game, and then poof… he just showed up.” While Minnesota Wild fans were frustrated, opposing teams saw an opportunity. As the Minnesota Wild next host Toronto Maple Leafs, many have pointed out that Kaprizov’s absence from the ice benefits Toronto: “Good news for the Leafs tmrw night.”
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Of course, some fans dealt with the situation through humor and making light of Kaprizov’s constant injuries and how often he is on IR. “Other news, Kaprizov inked an endorsement deal with Band-Aid. Congrats!” While some fans are laughing through the pain, most know that an extended Kaprizov absence could be a make-or-break moment in the Wild’s playoff push.
With at least four weeks until Kaprizov’s return, the Wild will have to rely on other players to fill the void. Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Marco Rossi will be expected to carry the offense, while the defense will need to tighten up to compensate for the loss of their best offensive weapon. Guerin remains confident, saying, “We’re a good team, especially when we play a certain way, and we’ll be all right.” But with the Central Division race tightening, Minnesota has little room for mistakes. One thing for sure is that, as the Wild go into the next stretch, the team has been resilient, but once again, without Kaprizov, the mountain to the playoffs is steep. The hope is this isn’t another spiral downward for them.
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Did the Wild's rush to bring back Kaprizov cost them their playoff dreams this season?
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Did the Wild's rush to bring back Kaprizov cost them their playoff dreams this season?
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