Kirill Kaprizov will have a different look this season.
Wild scoring leader Kirill Kaprizov will wear an 'A' this season as alternate captain
The All-Star winger joins captain Jared Spurgeon and alternate captain Marcus Foligno at the top of the leadership chain.
October 10, 2023 at 10:17PM
He'll be wearing an "A" on his jersey.
The Wild named their superstar scorer an alternate captain on Tuesday, filling the vacancy left by longtime defenseman Matt Dumba after his offseason departure to Arizona, and Kaprizov coveted the role.
"Maybe sometimes now I can talk to the referees," Kaprizov said before laughing. "Before referees don't want to talk with me. Maybe they don't understand my English. Now they can't say no to me."
This decision was finalized during training camp after team brass consulted with captain Jared Spurgeon and incumbent alternate Marcus Foligno.
Although there were plenty of options, the Wild settled on Kaprizov because of his work ethic and the leadership he's exhibited; not only does the 26-year-old winger set an example with his play, but he's become more vocal.
Spurgeon delivered the news to Kaprizov, and Foligno presented him with an updated sweater.
With Spurgeon hurt, sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered in the preseason, the Wild will actually start the season with three alternates. Joel Eriksson Ek will be the third.
"We have a lot of leaders on the team," Kaprizov said through an interpreter. "I'm very honored and happy and proud that these leaders and the team selected me to represent the team."
On the brink of his fourth NHL season, Kaprizov feels like his time with the Wild has flown by.
After an impressive debut that culminated in him getting recognized as the rookie of the year and receiving a five-year, $45 million contract, Kaprizov set franchise records in goals (47), assists (61) and points (108). He led the team in scoring again last season, posting 40-35—75 despite missing a month with a leg injury.
Overall, the 2015 fifth-round pick who captained Russia at the 2017 World Junior Championship ranks seventh in the NHL in goals (114) and 12th in points (234) since he arrived in 2021.
Now the journey continues with a new title.
"I can never say that I'm fully satisfied," Kaprizov said. "You always want more. You always want to do better. You always want to improve. You always want to win more."
The 39-year-old was a standout player at Grand Rapids and with the Gophers, and won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009.
