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Hey! Thanks for watching :) Please subscribe to my channel: Elite Prospects: Kirill Olegovich Kaprizov (Russian: Кирилл Олегович Капризов; born 26 April 1997) is a Russian professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Kaprizov made his Kontinental Hockey League debut playing with Metallurg Novokuznetsk during the 2014–15 KHL season, after being drafted first overall in the 2014 KHL Junior Draft. Kaprizov was drafted by the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, 135th overall. On 21 August 2015, Kaprizov was signed to a three-year contract extension to remain with Metallurg Novokuznetsk. On May 2, 2016 he was traded to Salavat Yulaev Ufa. In 2017, he moved to his current team HC CSKA Moscow, playing in the 2018 and 2019 Gagarin Cup finals, and winning the latter. Kaprizov has played for the Russian national team in the World Under-18 Championships and World Junior Championships. He was the youngest player in the Russian team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Korea. Fantasy Summary Kaprizov is about as close to an everyday NHLer you’ll find at his age, but contractual obligations are preventing him from stepping in immediately. Observations March 2020 – With the KHL playoffs now cancelled, what is expected to be Kaprizov’s final season in Russia is now over. He found a new level in 2019-2020 for CSKA, surpassing the point per game mark for the first time in his career and finishing third in KHL scoring. Regarded by many as the top NHL-affiliated prospect in the world, Kaprizov is expected to sign with the Wild this summer and make a tremendous impact as a rookie in 2020-2021. Sam Happi November 2019 – Kaprizov seems to have taken a step forward in what could be his final KHL campaign. With 28 points in as many games, the winger sits third in the league’s scoring race, behind just Vadim Shipachyov and Dmitri Jaskin. It’s been a dominant season for the Russian, flexing his scoring ability and surrounding offensive skillset as his team’s driving force. Minnesota GM Bill Guerin will be in Russia at the beginning of December to visit his prized prospect, a yearly tradition practiced by both Paul Fenton and Chuck Fletcher in recent years. With his contract with CSKA Moskva expiring after the season, all indications are that Kaprizov will be plying his trade at the NHL level in 2020-21. Sam Happi March 2019 – The former 5th-round-pick in 2015 has developed into one of the top players not in the NHL. A natural goal-scorer that uses excellent edge work and agility to make quick cuts on the ice that most players don’t have the ability to pull off. His shot and stick-handling ability are not only NHL-ready but well above average. Strong on his skates along the boards, he is good in the corners against men in the KHL. His passing ability is good but his vision allows him to remain a high-level playmaker. Putting up 30 goals in just 57 games this season for CSKA Moscow, Kaprizov will provide immediate 25 goal potential with even higher upside when he does come to the NHL. With the reality of the matter being that he has signed a KHL contract through 2020, it will likely be another season before there’s a realistic shot at a migration to the NHL. Tony Ferrari November 2018 – The 2020 season cannot come fast enough for Wild fans as Kaprizov has remains dangerously good at hockey. Fresh off a November 19th hat-trick, he stands at 13 goals, eight assists, and 21 points in 27 games played. New Wild GM Paul Fenton recently returned from a November scouting visit to Moscow and gave high praises of the top prospect in the Wild’s system. Fenton said, “He’s going to be a terrific player for us … He’s got the ability to be a natural goal scorer.” Two very modest statements considering what Kaprizov has displayed so far. The confidence seems to be there in the Wild’s pursuit to bring Kaprizov over when his KHL contract expires. Kaprizov’s hands and shot are a thing of beauty but when you add his agility, pace, and vision he really shows all the tools needed to become a star sniper in the NHL now, let alone another season and a half of developing in the KHL. If your league has room to stash players a season plus out, Kirill Kaprizov is a must own. Tyler Matson
