Wild will win Stanley Cup led by Kaprizov, goaltending depth

The Minnesota Wild will raise the Stanley Cup for the first time because this is the best, deepest team in their history.

The Wild head into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the hottest team in the NHL. They are 17-2-3 since the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline on March 21, five points better than the next three closest teams including the St. Louis Blues (15-4-2), their opponent in the best-of-7 Western Conference First Round.
It all starts for the Wild with Kirill Kaprizov, who has taken the NHL by storm since arriving last season. The 24-year-old Russia-born forward, who was voted winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year last season, is an elite game-breaker who can make all the difference in the tight-checking, low-scoring atmosphere that dominates the playoffs.
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It may well end with the goalie they acquired before the deadline: Marc-Andre Fleury, who agreed to join the Wild from the Chicago Blackhawks.
Fleury, who won the Stanley Cup three times with the Pittsburgh Penguins and helped the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to the Final in their inaugural season of 2018, is 9-2-0 with a 2.74 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 11 games for the Wild. He's played 162 postseason games, 65 more than any active goalie eligible for the postseason. He is in competition for starts with fellow veteran Cam Talbot, who is 8-0-3 with a 2.25 GAA, .925 save percentage and two shutouts since Fleury's arrival.
Though the goaltending depth is virtually unrivaled, all eyes will be on Kaprizov. In his first 136 regular-season NHL games, Kaprizov has 159 points (74 goals, 85 assists), a number topped by six others in that span. More impressive, three players have scored more goals: Auston Matthews (101) of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Leon Draisaitl (86) and Connor McDavid (77) of the Edmonton Oilers. Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals also has 74 goals.

Kaprizov is virtually unstoppable. He set a Wild record for points with 108 (47 goals, 61 assists), passing 83 set by Marian Gaborik in 2007-08. He had at least one point in 63 of 81 games and went no longer than three games without one this season (Oct. 23-26).
That consistency is invaluable.
But he has help.
Veteran Mats Zuccarello formed an immediate chemistry with Kaprizov and set an NHL career best with 79 points (24 goals, 55 assists).
Forward Ryan Hartman had an NHL career-high 65 points (34 goals, 31 assists) after he never had more than 31 in any of his eight full NHL seasons. Kevin Fiala had 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) this season, 31 more than his previous high set in 2019-20 and second-most in Wild history.
Rookie Matt Boldy was a recall from the Iowa of American Hockey League and added length to Minnesota's attack. The 21-year-old had 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists) in 47 games.
The Wild also know how to shut down a game with their deep defense and talented goalie tandem. They did not lose game in regulation this season when leading after two periods (35-0-3).
Much of their defensive identity comes from the three who are relied upon the most at the position. Jonas Brodin played 23:26 per game and had a plus-113 shot differential when he was on the ice in 5-on-5 situations. Captain Jared Spurgeon played 21:09 and was a team-best plus-183. Mathew Dumba, who played 23:06 per game, led Wild defensemen with 114 hits in 57 games.
This is a deep, talented team and by the end of the postseason it will also be a championship team.