Signed, sealed and delivered: Kaprizov deal done ahead of training camp

Breathe, Wild fans. Kirill Kaprizov is locked up for the foreseeable future.
Minnesota's Calder Trophy winner, who led all NHL rookies in goals and points last season, signed a five-year, $45 million contract on Tuesday on the eve of NHL training camp, which begins Wednesday with media day and Thursday with on-ice practice.
Kaprizov will be there Wednesday for media day, and is expected to be on the ice on Thursday morning when the Wild officially begins training camp. Most importantly, when the Wild opens the regular season on Oct. 15 against the Anaheim Ducks.

"Of course, I'm so happy," Kaprizov said moments after getting off the plane with Wild General Manager Bill Guerin at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Tuesday evening. "It's good for me, it's good for the team. Now I just want to play hockey and to [be with] my teammates and just play hockey."
Guerin never panicked this summer as questions about Kaprizov's status became louder and louder.
"It'll take care of itself," was Guerin's common refrain, from June and July, right on through to this past weekend, when Guerin was again asked for an update.
"I honestly have nothing new to tell you," Guerin said on Sunday. "I'd tell you, but I really don't have anything."
After a 3 1/2 hour flight from Florida, just he and Kaprizov, Guerin said he too is eager for the conversation to now turn back to the ice.
"We had a lot of time to talk and just go over a bunch of things," Guerin said. "The one thing that definitely rings true is that this kid just wants to play hockey, and he's so excited to be back. We couldn't be happier."

Neither is Kaprizov, who hopped off the plane with a huge smile on his face. After chatting with a reporter, Kaprizov handled a quick social media request by announcing his return, even winking for the camera unsolicited.
Kaprizov said he's heard from several of his teammates in recent days eager to have him back in the mix ahead of the season.
"I talked to them tonight, everybody texted me and said, 'Congratulations, we're happy," Kaprizov said. "And I texted back, 'Thank you, I'm happy too.'"
Everyone's joy is well-founded.
Kaprizov took the NHL by storm during an abbreviated 56-game season where the rookie played in each of the first 55 games.
He led the Wild and NHL rookies with 51 points, including 27 goals, in 55 games. He also led League rookies in goals, even-strength goals (19), power-play goals (8) and shots on goal (157), ranked tied for first in overtime goals (2), second in assists, even-strength points (38) and power-play points (13),
Per NHL Stats, the 5-foot-11, 201-pound forward is one of four rookies since 1992-93 to lead a team in scoring during the regular season and qualify for the playoffs: Auston Matthews (2016-17), Filip Forsberg (2014-15) and Trent Hunter (2003-04).
Kaprizov also led the Wild in goals, power-play goals and even-strength points, was tied for the club lead in even-strength goals, was second in power-play points and shots on goal. His 18:18 time on ice per game also led all Wild forwards.
For his efforts, Kaprizov was named the 2020-21 Calder Memorial Trophy winner on June 29, receiving 99 out of 100 first place votes. In doing so, he became the first Wild player to win the award.
Selected by Minnesota in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Kaprizov is the 10th Calder Memorial Trophy winner since 1970 to be drafted in the fifth round or later of the NHL Draft.
"This is a great day for our organization and for Kirill personally, for us a a team to have him back in the mix before training camp starts," Guerin said. "Everything is positive. It's been a long process like we knew it would be, but everything is great. We're looking forward now."
The belief has been that the Wild and Kaprizov's representation have been close on the terms of the deal for some time, and that it was simply a matter of hammering out the final details.
The start of training camp served as a useful - and obvious - book end to the offseason to get both sides to back to the table, which occurred in recent days. Whatever gaps needed to be bridged were closed, and now the focus can turn to hockey.
"Of course, of course. I want to play and I want to win," Kaprizov said. "Everyone is happy. It's a good feeling."