ST. PAUL, Minn. \u2014 After watching part of Tuesday\u2019s Minnesota Wild practice at TRIA Rink and catching up with former teammates, Marian Gaborik headed downstairs to the locker room.<\/p>\n
There was one particular person he was looking for.<\/p>\n
Gaborik, 43, took a seat in a stall next to Kirill Kaprizov\u2019s and started a conversation.<\/p>\n
There they were, the two best players in franchise history, talking shop and posing for photos.<\/p>\n
Gaborik, who\u2019s in town as part of the team\u2019s 25th-anniversary season celebration, still holds the team records for goals and game-winning goals, but he knows that\u2019s probably temporary with the Russian winger still in his prime.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to break all the records,\u201d Gaborik said. \u201cHe\u2019s becoming a true superstar. He already is, pretty much, and obviously signing a big deal \u2014 that\u2019s what Wild fans needed, to have a guy like this. And hopefully, it\u2019s going to work out for both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n
President of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin agrees. He\u2019s called Kaprizov\u2019s record-breaking deal \u2014 eight years at $17 million annually \u2014 the most important contract in team history. It\u2019s not just the fact that the team will keep Kaprizov for the next nine years. It\u2019s what it means that he decided to stay: his belief in the Wild\u2019s ability to be a contender.<\/p>\n
Well, right now, the Wild really need their superstar to put on his cape.<\/p>\n
Frankly, they could use him just looking more like himself.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a forgettable and frustrating start for the Wild, who have lost seven of their past eight after Tuesday\u2019s 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets<\/a>. That\u2019s a 3-5-3 record for those scoring at home \u2014 nine points in their first 11 games, putting them about as close to the Western Conference basement as a playoff spot.<\/p>\n The season isn\u2019t over. Far from it. But the Wild are digging themselves a hole and can\u2019t afford to fall deeper.<\/p>\n And, stunningly enough, Kaprizov has been part of the problem.<\/p>\n On the surface, the stats look good: six goals and 15 points in 11 games. That\u2019s a pretty strong pace, putting Kaprizov 11th in the league through Tuesday. But Tuesday marked Kaprizov\u2019s first goal at five-on-five \u2014 and, more importantly, with the game on the line, a Kaprizov turnover led to the Jets taking control of possession in overtime and then winning it on Kyle Connor\u2019s wrist shot a few seconds later.<\/p>\n It was the 15th even-strength goal against which Kaprizov has been on the ice, tied with captain Jared Spurgeon for most on the team.<\/p>\n KYLE CONNOR ENDS IT! \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n Connor’s fifth of the season wins it for the @NHLJets<\/a> in @Energizer<\/a> overtime! pic.twitter.com\/m02j8DJY3N<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHL (@NHL) October 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n How many times has Kaprizov instead been the hero in that situation? He has a franchise-record nine OT winners.<\/p>\n But in a game the Wild had to have \u2014 and on a night when they delivered one of their most complete performances \u2014 losing was a major gut punch. All they needed was one more play from Kaprizov or one more save from Filip Gustavsson. The Wild locked up both long term before the season and can go as far as they help take them.<\/p>\n Kaprizov\u2019s turnovers have been a recurring theme as of late, including gift-wrapping two goals in Sunday\u2019s overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. You can understand why Kaprizov would be pressing, considering the Wild\u2019s struggles, especially early on with their issues five-on-five. Nobody is questioning his desire to win or how much he cares. But he has to play more winning hockey. Play more direct.<\/p>\n Kaprizov signed the richest contract in NHL history. Fair or not, an even higher standard comes with that.<\/p>\n Coach John Hynes said Tuesday he plans to meet with Kaprizov to go over his decision-making.<\/p>\n \u201cI see a guy that\u2019s highly competitive, that wants to win, that wants to be a difference-maker,\u201d Hynes said. \u201cI think there\u2019s certain aspects of his game that I need to talk with him about. It\u2019s not for a lack of effort or lack of care. I just think there\u2019s times where you have to have some better decisions. But other than that, mostly with the team, it\u2019s sometimes doing the wrong things for the right reasons.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to make a difference. You want to make a play, but sometimes they\u2019re not there. I think that\u2019s a big part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Even when Kaprizov got off to a hot start, sparked by his four power-play goals, he wasn\u2019t happy with his game. He knew he could do more. So giving away the puck twice in the defensive zone leading to goals on Sunday didn\u2019t sit well.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard,\u201d Kaprizov said after Sunday\u2019s loss. \u201cIt sometimes happens. We know, everyone, we should play better, and it starts from us \u2014 from me especially, and from other guys, too, from (the) whole team. We need to play better. Sometimes (it) happens. We need to be more focused, play more \u2026 (the) right way and enjoy the hockey. Now sometimes simple but big mistakes, and we need to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n The points are one thing, but the under-the-hood numbers show another. Kaprizov\u2019s five-on-five expected-goals rate is 45.09 percent, the lowest of his career, per Evolving-Hockey<\/a>. The Wild still have a 51.66 percent scoring rate in those minutes, but that\u2019s lower than years past.<\/p>\n 2020-21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 51.03<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 59.44<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2021-22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 53.85<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 58.89<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2022-23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 54.23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 54.05<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2023-24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 56.04<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 55.40<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2024-25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 55.55<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 59.37<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2025-26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 45.09<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 51.66<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n The Wild are also shooting and scoring less and allowing more in Kaprizov\u2019s five-on-five minutes, compared to last season.<\/p>\n 2020-21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.96<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.02<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27.75<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28.57<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2021-22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3.84<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.68<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 32.71<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 29.56<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2022-23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.53<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.15<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 31.16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27.01<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2023-24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3.51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.82<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 30.43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28.67<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2024-25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3.18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 29.53<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26.47<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2025-26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3.02<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.83<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 23.85<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 29.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Guerin doesn\u2019t necessarily see a struggling star, though. He sees a leader sometimes trying to do too much \u2014 pressing to help the team. Guerin said the Wild want Kaprizov to continue to be \u201ccreative\u201d and play the game that made him a franchise player. They just want smarter decisions in certain moments. Of course, all of this seems simple when you\u2019re watching it from up top or on TV.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re in the fire, when you\u2019re on the ice, things are happening, you\u2019re not always thinking, \u2018Less is more,’\u201d Guerin said. \u201cYou\u2019re thinking, \u2018Help the team.\u2019 So easier said than done. Easier said on the second day. But in certain areas, he could be a little better. But, hey, look, he still had (a goal on Tuesday). And it was a big one. That\u2019s what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n Guerin met with the captains<\/a> over the weekend, including Kaprizov, saying \u201cwe\u2019re all in this together.\u201d He believes they need to stick with it, that they\u2019re on the \u201ccusp,\u201d but he acknowledges it could go the other way if they don\u2019t approach it right. So this is a tipping point.<\/p>\n And the Wild\u2019s rough start shouldn\u2019t be pinned all on No. 97, of course. Everyone has had a hand in this. Brock Faber was struggling before looking much better in recent games. Marcus Foligno still has no points in 10 games. Joel Eriksson Ek isn\u2019t his productive self. And the last line of defense, Gustavsson, hasn\u2019t been able to save them.<\/p>\n Gustavsson has been the only bright spot in a few losses, particularly in the Washington Capitals and Utah Mammoth games. He\u2019s kept them in several games. But on a night like Tuesday, they needed timely saves in the third when they took the lead, and on Connor\u2019s OT winner. Gustavsson\u2019s stat line \u2014 3.42 goals-against average and .890 save percentage \u2014 is uncharacteristic. He ranks 53rd in the NHL with 1.3 goals allowed above expectation, according to MoneyPuck<\/a>. Jesper Wallstedt is 51st. Their combined .883 save percentage is 26th in the NHL.<\/p>\n Those numbers don\u2019t tell the whole story. But the most telling and important stat is that Gustavsson has two wins in eight starts.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, the hardest part,\u201d Gustavsson said. \u201cYou go home and you review it, and right now, I don\u2019t think I would change anything on how I am playing. And, you know, very minor things you can change. The way we played (Tuesday) was fine. It felt more like last year, or when we\u2019re on it and we give up limited chances.\u201d<\/p>\n Said Jake Middleton: \u201cWe broke the puck out well. We defended hard. I think we limited their chances to the best of our ability. Like, even the goals they scored were \u2014 I don\u2019t even know what to say \u2014 they just went in.\u201d<\/p>\n This won\u2019t get any easier. The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming into town rolling, with ageless stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Kaprizov\u2019s summer training partner, leading the way.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Kaprizov\u2019s turn. As much as everyone knows that he will likely break all of Gaborik\u2019s records, there\u2019s one thing the Wild\u2019s first draft pick has over him. Gaborik helped lead the Wild on a lengthy playoff run, including to the conference final in 2003. When Kaprizov signed, he said a key reason was his belief that this current group can get there.<\/p>\n As Kaprizov said Tuesday morning, he hoped they could win and give \u201csome happy stuff for our fans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to just start feeling this winning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
SeasonxG%GF%<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SeasonGF\/60GA\/60SF\/60SA\/60<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n