Craig Leipold never reached a point where he thought Monday's franchise-altering development might not happen, but the Wild owner admits he had moments of real concern.
"He's already gone through three coaches and three general managers," Leipold said with a laugh.
Yep, the Wild organization has undergone many reincarnations since drafting Kirill Kaprizov in 2015. The one constant throughout was a burning desire — and need — to get the Russian star signed, sealed and delivered.
That long-awaited moment finally happened. Well, not technically yet. Possibly later this week, depending on travel plans.
But Kaprizov is a member of the organization now, not some mythical figure in a faraway land dangling like a diamond on YouTube to torment Wild fans who weren't sure if he would ever wear the team's uniform.
The circumstances are unusual — perhaps fitting for this saga — but Kaprizov signed his two-year entry-level contract Monday, though he won't be eligible to play until next season, another dastardly delay but no longer a roadblock.
"It seems like it's been an eternity since we drafted him, and it really became known how special this player was," Leipold said.
How important is Kaprizov's signing? On the same day, the Wild announced a head coach and held its first practice in four months, and those two developments became sidebars.
