The Minnesota Wild breathed a collective sigh of relief as star forward Kirill Kaprizov returned to the lineup after a lengthy absence. Kaprizov, who was a Hart Trophy front-runner before his injury, was tight-lipped about the nature of his setback, saying only that “something happened” and that he’s now “good to go” with no limitations. 
Kaprizov’s return is a welcome boost to a Wild team that has struggled with secondary scoring this season. Despite his absence, the team managed to play above .500 hockey, including notable wins in Dallas, Carolina, Washington, and Colorado. In Kaprizov’s place, Matt Boldy was elevated to the top line alongside Mats Zuccarello and Marco Rossi. Boldy will be expected to continue contributing to the team’s offense, particularly with Kaprizov’s return.
The Wild also received a welcome injection of offense from Joel Eriksson Ek, who broke out of his scoring slump with goals in back-to-back games. However, the team is still without Marcus Johansson, who is recovering from a concussion. Johansson’s return is imminent, which should provide another boost to the Wild’s lineup.
If Kaprizov were to undergo surgery, league sources indicate that he could miss around six weeks. This would have significant implications for the Wild’s cap space at the March 7 trade deadline. With Kaprizov’s $9 million cap hit potentially returning to the books, the team would be limited in its ability to make deadline deals. This could prevent the Wild from pursuing high-profile targets like J.T. Miller or Brock Nelson.
Despite these challenges, the Wild remains optimistic about its playoff chances. With Kaprizov’s return, the team is poised to make a push for the postseason. As Kaprizov himself said, “I just want to feel good in the game.” With their star forward back in the lineup, the Wild is hopeful that they can make a deep run in the playoffs.
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