Some concerning news for the Minnesota Wild as they come out of the holiday break.
On Friday, the team revealed that forward Kirill Kaprizov will is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and will not be in the lineup as the Wild prepare to face the Dallas Stars tonight.
When speaking to the media after morning skate, head coach John Hynes revealed that Kaprizov had some soreness going into the break, but that it is not related to a past injury.
The Russian star missed the Wild’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames on Nov. 23 with a lower-body injury as well. It was the only game Kaprizov had missed so far this season. It is unknown how long he will be out of the lineup, but Minnesota is back home this weekend, hosting the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
Kaprizov has been among the most productive players in the NHL through the first three months of the year. Through 34 games, he has scored 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points. He ranks tied for second in goals and tied for fourth in points. Heading into the holiday break, he registered points in five of the last six games, scoring five goals and seven points during that span. The former fifth-round pick has only been held off the scoresheet seven times thus far.
Injuries aren’t anything new to Kaprizov. In his five years in the NHL, he has never played a full season. He came close in 2021-22, appearing in 81 contests in which he scored a career-high 108 points.
The Wild (21-10-4) is second in the Central Division, five points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first place.
