Kaprizov Injury Concern Grows for "Frustrated, Upset" Minnesota Wild

"The Minnesota Wild are frustrated, disappointed and upset" after their superstar Kirill Kaprizov was injured on a play that resulted in no penalty being called. That's the word from insider Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada. 

Kaprizov fortunately returned after this but another unfortunate collision.

More knee-on-knee than the Ovechkin-McBain collision, which was more shin-on-shin. Ovi out 4-6 weeks. pic.twitter.com/7j6J9oqLvY

— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) November 22, 2024

Kaprizov took a hit to his knee on the hit from Edmonton Oilers fourth-liner Drake Caggiula. The Wild star actually returned later in the game, but now it appears there's concern about the injury after he sat out Saturday's game. 

What's really got the Wild peeved is that this is the second time in three years that their superstar has been injured by "fringe NHLers" as Michael Russo put in The Athletic, without a call from the refs.

In 2023, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley fell on top of Kaprizov, and again, there was no penalty called. 

As far as how long Kaprizov might miss, there seems to be some growing concern, as head coach John Hynes has changed his tune from after that game on Friday, when he said that his leading scorer avoided major injury. He's not saying that any longer and insists everyone needs to wait for more testing on Sunday by team doctors in Minny. 

Kaprizov is 2nd in the NHL with 34 points, and 5th in goals with 13, and tied for 3rd in plus/minus rating at +16, in his 19 games thus far. 

The Wild are off to a tremendous start at 13-3-4 and in second spot in the Central Division. But they will have a huge void to fill if their leader is out for long.