Kaprizov takes his rightful place among NHL's elite at All-Star Game

LAS VEGAS -- If Kirill Kaprizov is looking for a quiet, relaxing weekend for his All-Star break - and knowing him, he probably would prefer it - did he ever come to the wrong spot.
The self-described "simple guy," who is admittedly uncomfortable with all the attention and spotlight that comes with an NHL All-Star Game, arrived in Sin City on Thursday where he and teammate Cam Talbot will represent the Wild Friday in the All-Star Skills Competition and in Saturday's All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena.
Needless to say, there was no glitzy nightclub or late-night gambling story that Kaprizov has from night one in Las Vegas.

"Took a walk around Las Vegas for a little while," Kaprizov said. "Went to dinner."
Kaprizov's parents Oleg and Natasha have been in the United States for the last week or so, following Kaprizov through the Wild's two games in New York last weekend before heading to the Twin Cities, where they hung out while the Wild went for a one game sojourn to Chicago before the break.
The family flew out here together on Thursday morning, and while Kaprizov has played here on numerous occasions over the past 12 months, his parents have never been to Las Vegas.
For two people that don't speak a lick of English, it's quite the culture shock.

"They've only seen Vegas in movies," Kaprizov said. "Obviously so they're pretty much in awe of the beautiful city."
Kaprizov is no stranger to this city. He played in four games here last season during the regular season, then four more in the Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Golden Knights that went seven games.
Minnesota has already played here twice this season too. But each of those trips has either been in the middle of pandemic restrictions or a one-night, next day out scenario. There really hasn't been much time to truly take in every thing that Vegas has to offer.
Not that he would anyway.
This is a guy who likes to hang out at home on his off nights and play computer games.

He'll occasionally turn on a hockey game on television while he's getting ready for bed, but not every night, and he says there isn't a single player or team that he enjoys watching when the Wild isn't in action.
Kaprizov just goes about his business in a quiet, unassuming way, which makes him a rarity on a weekend like this where the bright, league-wide spotlight is on the world's best hockey players, of which, Kaprizov has proven he's one of.
"I think I'm, in general, a lot more confident in myself and my game," Kaprizov said through a translator. "This is my second year and it was pretty tough initially the first year but as time progresses in year two, I've gotten a lot more comfortable and confident in my abilities.
"It's really interesting to me just to see all these guys all in one place, just to see how they handle themselves, how they present themselves, what they do out there on the ice and just to get to know the guys is a fun experience."
In Friday's skills competition, Kaprizov will take part in the Breakaway Challenge, going up against some of the youngest and most creative players in the NHL today, like Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.
Kaprizov has maintained for days that he hasn't put much thought into what he might unveil for fans at the event, but he's done so with a grin that suggests otherwise.
Even Friday, he insisted he hadn't finalized his plans for the showcase event, asking one reporter in English what that person thinks he should do.

"These guys are pretty incredible in what they can do out there," Kaprizov said. "I'm sure they will entertain the spectators quite a lot today and I will try to think of something myself what I'm going to do out there even though I just found out yesterday that I was going to shoot the breakaway challenge."
One player that Kaprizov was eager to see was Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, who was named to the Metropolitan Division team but was placed in COVID-19 protocols earlier this week, forcing him to miss the game.
After not playing any Eastern Conference teams in his rookie campaign last season, Kaprizov's lone missed game this season came against ... the Capitals last month in St. Paul.
It's an unfortunate turn of events for Kaprizov who is eager to share the ice with one of the greatest Russian-born players in NHL history.
"He was really looking forward to coming here," Kaprizov said. "He called me before the All-Star saying 'I'll see you soon,' and he was looking forward to being here. It's really too bad he couldn't be here."
There are other Russians here, however, Ovechkin's teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy among them, but Kaprizov said he's eager to meet so many others that he's seen from afar or only played against a couple of times.
"There's just so many good players," Kaprizov said. "I want to spend time with all of them and get to know as many as I can."
Undoubtedly, those same players are eager to meet him as well, as Kaprizov can now count himself as one of the NHL's very best.