For general manager Bill Guerin, there was only one way to get this deal done before the start of the season: with an old-fashioned, face-to-face conversation. Kaprizov received 99 of 100 first-place votes for the Calder award for the league’s top rookie, the first Wild player to win it. Guerin and Kaprizov hit it off at their first meeting in Russia two years ago. Now the Wild will turn anew to the 24-year-old Kaprizov to be the game-changing scoring threat they’ve long lacked. You know, it’s like, ‘Whew,’” Kaprizov said in English, as he raised then lowered his shoulders to emphasize a deep breath.

Source: thestar September 23, 2021 00:33 UTC