Kirill Kaprizov

Russian professional ice hockey player

Ice hockey player

Kirill Kaprizov

Kaprizov with Metallurg Novokuznetsk in 2015

Born|  (1997-04-26) 26 April 1997 (age 25)
Novokuznetsk, Russia
Height|  5 ft 10[1] in (178 cm)
Weight|  194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position|  Left wing
Shoots|  Left
NHL team
Former teams|  Minnesota Wild
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
CSKA Moscow
National team|  Russia
NHL Draft|  135th overall, 2015
Minnesota Wild
Playing career|  2014-present

Kirill Olegovich Kaprizov (Russian: Кирилл Олегович Капризов; born 26 April 1997) is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Before joining the Wild, Kaprizov played for Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Salavat Yulaev Ufa and CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Kaprizov won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2021, becoming the first Wild player to win the award. He is also known to fans by the nickname “Dolla Dolla Bill” and "Kirill the Thrill".[2]

## Contents

* 1 Early life
* 2 Playing career
* 2.1 KHL career (2014–2020)
* 2.2 Minnesota Wild (2021–present)
* 2.2.1 Early career: Calder Trophy, contract extension, and franchise records
* 3 International play
* 4 Personal life
* 5 Career statistics
* 5.1 Regular season and playoffs
* 5.2 International
* 6 Awards and honors
* 6.1 Minnesota Wild records
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## Early life[edit]

Kaprizov grew up in a small village about 60 miles outside of Novokuznetsk, a city in Kemerovo Oblast in south-western Siberia, Russia. He began playing hockey at the age of four, traveling daily between his village and downtown Novokuzentsk for practice before eventually moving to a more central location in the city to further his hockey career. Kaprizov played in the Metallurg Novokuznetsk hockey school from a young age, progressing to the Kuznetskie Medvedi junior team before beginning his professional career with the senior team in 2014.[3]

## Playing career[edit]

### KHL career (2014–2020)[edit]

Kaprizov playing for Metallurg Novokuznetsk against Dinamo Minsk in 2015.

Kaprizov made his Kontinental Hockey League debut playing with his hometown club Metallurg Novokuznetsk during the 2014–15 KHL season, after being drafted first overall in the 2014 KHL Junior Draft.[4] On 21 August 2015, Kaprizov was signed to a three-year contract extension to remain with Metallurg Novokuznetsk.[5]

On 2 May 2016, he was traded to Salavat Yulaev Ufa.[6] He would play one season for Ufa, totaling 42 points in 49 games before being traded to CSKA Moscow in 2017 in exchange for monetary compensation.[7] He played in the 2018 and 2019 Gagarin Cup finals, winning the latter. During his final season under contract with CSKA in 2019–20, Kaprizov set career highs marks with 33 goals, 29 assists, and 62 points and tied his career best in games played with 57. His 33 goals led the KHL for the second straight season and his 62 points ranked third in scoring. He registered his 100th career goal on 15 October 2019, becoming the youngest player in KHL history to do so, at 22-years, 172-days old. In the postseason, Kaprizov posted four points in CSKA's first-round series sweep against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod before the KHL cancelled its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he and the rest of CSKA team were awarded the title of Russian champions based on regular standings.[8] During his KHL career, Kaprizov was selected to five KHL All-Star Games in each year from 2016 to 2020.

### Minnesota Wild (2021–present)[edit]

Kaprizov was drafted by the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, 135th overall. According to Wild owner Craig Leipold, the Wild's scouting department only became aware of Kaprizov when smog from the 2014 California wildfires delayed their flight home from a scouting trip in Russia. This allowed them to attend one of Kaprizov's games while playing for Metallurg Novokuznetsk.[3] Upon being drafted by the Wild, Kaprizov learned about Minnesota from his Novokuznetsk teammate and Minnesota native Ryan Stoa. He has credited Stoa with motivating and helping him to learn English to prepare for his career in the NHL.[9]

#### Early career: Calder Trophy, contract extension, and franchise records[edit]

On 13 July 2020, Kaprizov signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the Minnesota Wild.[10] The contract would include the COVID-19 impacted and prolonged 2019–20 season, effectively burning the first year of his deal.[11] Kaprizov made his NHL debut on 14 January 2021, against the Los Angeles Kings. He tallied three points, including the game-winning goal in overtime, in a 4–3 victory for the Wild, becoming the first player in NHL history to score three points and an overtime goal in his debut,[12] and also becoming the third player in NHL history to score an overtime goal in his debut.[13] He was subsequently named NHL First Star of the Week for the week ending 17 January.[14] Kaprizov scored his first NHL hat trick on 12 March, in a 4–0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.[15] On 19 April, Kaprizov scored his 37th point, breaking the Wild's franchise record for points by a rookie which was previously held by Marián Gáborík (in 2000–01). Despite the shortened 2020–21 NHL season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaprizov set Wild franchise records for goals and points by a rookie, with 27 goals and 51 points. He would eventually be awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year, becoming the first player in Wild franchise history to receive the honor. He received 99 out of 100 first place votes, the highest percentage since Teemu Selänne in 1993.[16]

On 21 September 2021, Kaprizov signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Wild.[17] The contract came after months of negotiating in which Kaprizov was reported to be willing to return to CSKA Moscow if he had not come to terms with the Wild;[18] however, regarding these reports Kaprizov said there was "no chance" he would have returned to the KHL.[19] As a result of the contract, Kaprizov became the highest-paid sophomore player in NHL history.[20] After starting the season with 40 points in 32 games, Kaprizov was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game.[21] At All-Star weekend, he participated in the Breakaway Challenge in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, with a tribute to Alexander Ovechkin by wearing Ovechkin's jersey and performing his famed "hot stick" celebration following a goal.[22] On 2 April 2022, Kaprizov broke Marián Gáborík's franchise record for points in a season with 84, and later in the month would go on to break Gáborík's franchise record for goals in a season with 43.[23] By season's end, Kaprizov set Wild franchise records in each of the major scoring categories with 47 goals, 61 assists, and 108 points.[24]

Kaprizov returned to Russia to visit family during the offseason despite Wild general manager Bill Guerin encouraging him to stay in Minnesota as a result of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.[25] In July 2022, multiple Russian media outlets reported that Kaprizov was wanted in Russia for allegedly purchasing a fraudulent military identity card in 2017 to evade the mandatory military service required of Russian men aged 18 to 27.[26] The reports occurred days after Philadelphia Flyers prospect Ivan Fedotov was arrested in Russia for purchasing a military ID in 2017;[27] Kaprizov and Fedotov were teammates on Salavat Yulaev Ufa during this time. Responding to these reports, Kaprizov's father denied the allegations and stated that Kaprizov was a student at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration and thus his military obligations were delayed as a result of his studies. Despite the reports being largely refuted by Western media, Kaprizov attempted to leave Russia twice in the days following, once being denied entry to the United States via Dubai and later being denied entry via the Caribbean before returning to Russia. On August 1st, Kaprizov successfully entered the United States via Turkey, arriving in New York City before returning to Minnesota the following day.[28]

## International play[edit]

Kaprizov with the Russian national team at the 2017 Channel One Cup

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing
Olympic Athletes from Russia
Olympic Games
| 2018 Pyeongchang |
Representing  Russia
World Championships
| 2019 Slovakia |
World Junior Championships
| 2016 Helsinki |
| 2017 Canada |

Kaprizov has played for the Russian national team in the IIHF World U18 Championship, IIHF World Junior Championship, senior Ice Hockey World Championships, and the Winter Olympics. Kaprizov finished tied as the leading scorer at the 2017 World Junior Championship, with nine goals and three assists in 12 games played. Kaprizov and Russia won the bronze medals, beating Finland in the third place game. He was the youngest player on the gold medal-winning Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.[29] Kaprizov scored the golden goal in overtime of the gold medal match against Germany to clinch the first gold medal for the Russian ice hockey team since 1992.[30] His five goals throughout the Olympics finished tied for the tournament lead. In 2019, he won bronze at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.

## Personal life[edit]

Kaprizov is a Russian Orthodox Christian.[31] He is the godfather and namesake of his CSKA Moscow teammate Nikita Nesterov's son, Kirill Nesterov, who was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church in 2019.[32]

Kaprizov enjoys playing video games, including games from the Counter Strike and Dota franchises.[3] When back home in Novokuznetsk, he enjoys fishing and playing football.[31]

## Career statistics[edit]

### Regular season and playoffs[edit]

|  | Regular season |  | Playoffs

|
|
|
|

Season | Team  | League  | GP  | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP  | G  | A  | Pts  | PIM
2013–14  | Kuznetskie Medvedi | MHL | 52  | 18  | 16  | 34  | 30  | 8  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 2
2014–15 | Metallurg Novokuznetsk | KHL | 31  | 4  | 4  | 8  | 6  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2014–15  | Kuznetskie Medvedi  | MHL  | 3  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 2
2015–16 | Metallurg Novokuznetsk  | KHL  | 53  | 11  | 16  | 27  | 10  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2015–16  | Kuznetski Medvedi  | MHL  | 4  | 7  | 3  | 10  | 0  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2016–17 | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | KHL  | 49  | 20  | 22  | 42  | 66  | 5  | 3  | 0  | 3  | 0
2017–18 | CSKA Moscow | KHL  | 46  | 15  | 25  | 40  | 14  | 19  | 2  | 8  | 10  | 4
2018–19 | CSKA Moscow  | KHL  | 57  | 30  | 21  | 51  | 16  | 19  | 4  | 10  | 14  | 6
2019–20 | CSKA Moscow  | KHL  | 57  | 33  | 29  | 62  | 10  | 4  | 2  | 2  | 4  | 2
2020–21 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 55  | 27  | 24  | 51  | 16  | 7  | 2  | 1  | 3  | 4
2021–22 | Minnesota Wild  | NHL  | 81  | 47  | 61  | 108  | 34  | 6  | 7  | 1  | 8  | 2
KHL totals  | 293  | 113  | 117  | 230  | 122  | 47  | 11  | 20  | 31  | 12
NHL totals  | 136  | 74  | 85  | 159  | 50  | 13  | 9  | 2  | 11  | 6

### International[edit]

Year  | Team  | Event  | Result  |  | GP  | G  | A  | Pts  | PIM

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2015 | Russia | WJC18 | 5th  | 4  | 1  | 3  | 4  | 2
2015 | Russia  | IH18 | 5th  | 4  | 5  | 2  | 7  | 0
2016 | Russia  | WJC |  | 7  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 2
2017 | Russia  | WJC  |  | 7  | 9  | 3  | 12  | 2
2018 | OAR | OG |  | 6  | 5  | 4  | 9  | 2
2018 | Russia | WC | 6th  | 8  | 6  | 2  | 8  | 2
2019 | Russia  | WC  |  | 9  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 2
Junior totals  | 22  | 16  | 10  | 26  | 6
Senior totals  | 23  | 13  | 6  | 19  | 6

## Awards and honors[edit]

Award  | Year  |

|
|

KHL
All-Star Game | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
Gagarin Cup | 2019 | [33]
Golden Stick (MVP)  | 2019  | [34]
Best Sniper | 2019, 2020 | [34]
NHL
Calder Memorial Trophy | 2021 |
All-Rookie Team | 2021  |
All-Star Game | 2022 |

### Minnesota Wild records[edit]

Career  Record  | Total  | Ref.

|
|

Most goals by a rookie  | 27, 2020–21 | [35]
Most points by a rookie  | 51, 2020–21 | [36]
Most points in a season  | 108, 2021–22 | [37]
Most goals in a season  | 47, 2021–22 | [38]
Most assists in a season  | 61, 2021–22 | [39]
Consecutive games with a goal  | 6, March 24 – April 2, 2022 (tied with Nino Niederreiter and Brian Rolston)  | [40]
Most goals in a month  | 13, March 2022  | [38]
Most goals in a playoff series  | 7, 2022 First Round  | [41]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Kirill Kaprizov Stats and News". NHL.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
2. ^ Campbell, Dave (14 May 2021). "Kirill the thrill: Russian rookie Kaprizov big boost to Wild". AP News. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
3. ^ a b c Becoming Wild: Kirill Kaprizov. Minnesota Wild. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via YouTube.
4. ^ "Kirill Kaprizov player profiles". Kontinental Hockey League. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
5. ^ "Kaprizov signs a three-year contract with Novokuznetsk". allhockey.ru (in Russian). 21 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
6. ^ Metallurg Novokuznetsk (2 May 2016). "Кирилл Капризов перешел в "Салават Юлаев"" (in Russian). Metallurg-nk.ru. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
7. ^ ХК ЦСКА Москва [@hccska] (1 May 2017). "ЦСКА пополнился Кириллом Капризовым и Вадимом Перескоковым t.co/UgZCKFMSUj t.co/39961k24ug" (Tweet) (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via Twitter.
8. ^ "ЦСКА - чемпион России 2019/2020". cska-hockey.ru (in Russian). 3 July 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
9. ^ "The Faceoff: Kirill Kaprizov".
10. ^ McLellan, Sarah. "Kirill Kaprizov signs with Wild, but can't play this postseason". Star Tribune. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
11. ^ "Wilds signs Kaprizov to two-year, entry-level contract". Minnesota Wild. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
12. ^ "Kirill Kaprizov became the first player to accomplish this impressive feat in his first NHL game". BarDown. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
13. ^ McPherson, Jordan (30 January 2021). "Florida Panthers rookie caps NHL debut with game-winner in overtime against Detroit". Miami Herald. Retrieved 1 February 2021. "Heponiemi is just the fourth player to score an overtime goal in his NHL debut. The others: Kirill Kaprizov for the Minnesota Wild (Jan. 14), Tim Sweeney for the Calgary Flames (Oct. 4, 1990), and Nick Knott for the Brooklyn Americans (Nov. 2, 1941)."
14. ^ "Kaprizov of Wild, Minneapolis health care worker NHL First Stars of Week". National Hockey League. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
15. ^ Pierce, Jessi (13 March 2021). "Kaprizov Scores First NHL Hat Trick in Wild Shutout of Coyotes". National Hockey League. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
16. ^ "Kaprizov wins NHL's top rookie award after rewriting Wild record book". Star Tribune.
17. ^ "Kaprizov signs five-year, $45 million contract with Wild". National Hockey League. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
18. ^ Weekes, Kevin [@KevinWeekes] (18 June 2021). "As of now talks with likely Rookie of the yr Kaprizov & @mnwild have gone cold. My understanding is he's in Moscow and it's believed CSKA is interested in signing him for KHL & Olympics. @NHL @NHLNetwork #HockeyTwitter" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via Twitter.
19. ^ Russo, Michael [@RussoHockey] (22 September 2021). "Kaprizov on whether he ever planned to play in the KHL: "no chance." Guerin joked, "you shouldn't answer that. You're going to blow it for the next contract negotiation."" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via Twitter.
20. ^ "Wild, Kaprizov finally agree to contract: Five years, $45M".
21. ^ Wyshynski, Greg (13 January 2022). "NHL All-Star Game rosters revealed, with some big names omitted amid 3-on-3 format". ESPN.com. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
22. ^ "Kaprizov does his best Ovechkin impression in Breakaway Challenge".
23. ^ "Kirill Kaprizov breaks franchise record as Wild beat Hurricanes".
24. ^ @RussoHockey (30 April 2022). "#mnwild's franchise-record 53-win, 113-point season ends w a 3-1 win over #avs. Game 1 vs. #stlblues expected to be…" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
25. ^ "Wild GM Bill Guerin says Kirill Kaprizov is fine, still in Russia". CBS News.
26. ^ "Wild's Kirill Kaprizov remains in Russia amid reports of fake military ID, flight to U.S."
27. ^ "Russian hockey player detained in Russia for allegedly evading military service, per reports". CNN.
28. ^ "Wild's Kaprizov returns to U.S.: Sources".
29. ^ "Ice Hockey Men – Team Roster – OAR" (PDF). Pyeongchang 2018. International Olympic Committee. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
30. ^ "Kaprizov's heroics give Russians Olympic gold".
31. ^ a b КАПРИЗОВ: НОВЫЙ КОНТРАКТ / О ЖИЗНИ В США / ЕСТЬ ли ДЕВУШКА?/ ПОЧЕМУ НЕ ВЗЯЛИ В ЛОКО? СПОЛТ-ЭТО ЗЫЗНЬ. ЧЕРКАС АТЛАНТ. 22 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via YouTube.
32. ^ ХК ЦСКА Москва [@hccska] (26 June 2019). "В семье Никиты Нестерова радостное событие – вчера в храме Богоявления в Миассе крестили его второго сына – Кирилла. Крестным отцом Кирилла стал его тезка – Кирилл Капризов.🙏👼 t.co/bNYYZlZtHN" (Tweet) (in Russian). Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via Twitter.
33. ^ "CSKA lifts the Gagarin Cup". Kontinental Hockey League. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
34. ^ a b "KHL hands out 2018–19 awards in Moscow". theihlc.com. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
35. ^ "Kaprizov breaks Wild rookie record with 19th goal of year - Sportsnet.ca".
36. ^ "Kirill Kaprizov sets Wild rookie points record in win at Arizona". 20 April 2021.
37. ^ "Kirill Kaprizov breaks franchise record as Wild beat Hurricanes". 3 April 2022.
38. ^ a b Russo, Michael [@RussoHockey] (10 April 2022). "14 seconds in, Kirill Kaprizov scores his 42nd goal to tie the #mnwild franchise record held by Eric Staal and Marian Gaborik. Centered for Eriksson Ek and ricocheted in off Olli Maatta's blade 3-1" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via Twitter.
39. ^ Russo, Michael [@RussoHockey] (29 April 2022). "1Kaprizov (2 pts) finishes with record 47 goals, 61 assists, 108 points; Greenway 2 goals; Jost goal; Fleury 27 stops, 9-2 w/Wild; Foligno hurt" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022 - via Twitter.
40. ^ Minnesota Wild PR [@mnwildPR] (2 April 2022). "Kaprizov makes its 3-0 #mnwild with his second point of the game (1-1=2). He extends his goal streak to six games (7-2=9) to tie the franchise record for longest goal streak set by Nino Niederreiter, 11/14-11/24/17 & Brian Rolston, 1/21-2/5/08" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via Twitter.
41. ^ Minnesota Wild PR [@mnwildPR] (10 May 2022). "Kaprizov sets a new #mnwild playoff record for most goals in a single playoff series with seven, surpassing Gaborik's and Walz's five in the 2003 CSF vs. VAN. He also ties Gaborik (2003 First Round vs. COL) for most PPG in a single playoff series with three" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 April 2022 - via Twitter.

## External links[edit]

* Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements

Preceded by

Cale Makar

|  Winner of the Calder Trophy
2021 | Succeeded by

Moritz Seider