Wild Star Kirill Kaprizov's High-Powered Play Comes with a Cost: Turnovers
Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov has been living up to his expectations this season, racking up 15 points in just 11 games. But behind the impressive statistics lies a concerning trend: an alarming number of turnovers that have cost his team dearly.
The latest example came Tuesday night in overtime, when a misplaced pass by Kaprizov led to a Jets goal and sealed the Wild's fourth consecutive defeat. The mistake marked one of several giveaways in recent games, raising questions about the 24-year-old Russian's ability to control the puck in high-pressure situations.
Wild coach John Hynes acknowledged that Kaprizov is "highly competitive" and wants to win, but also noted that there are times when the team needs better decision-making. "It's not for a lack of effort or care," Hynes said. "I just think there are times where you have to have some better decisions... sometimes doing the wrong things for the right reasons."
Kaprizov's tendency to try to make a play has led to costly mistakes, particularly when his team is trailing. The Wild's coach recognizes that players like Kaprizov and Matt Boldy often want to help their teammates by making big plays, but this can lead to careless giveaways.
Despite the struggles, Kaprizov's on-ice production remains impressive. His power play success has been a key factor in the Wild's strong league performance, with the team scoring 31.8 percent of the time they have a man advantage.
The larger picture is that Kaprizov's desire to carry his team to victory can sometimes lead to mistakes. As Hynes noted, it's not about having too much fire or motivation, but rather making smart decisions in critical situations. With the Wild struggling to find consistency, Kaprizov's ability to balance production with prudence will be crucial in determining their season-long trajectory.
Meanwhile, former University of Minnesota forward Logan Cooley has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $10 million per year, while teammate Jackson LaCombe secured a deal that surpassed $9 million annually. The trend continues: young players from the Gophers' 2022-23 team are commanding significant contracts in the NHL.
Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov has been living up to his expectations this season, racking up 15 points in just 11 games. But behind the impressive statistics lies a concerning trend: an alarming number of turnovers that have cost his team dearly.
The latest example came Tuesday night in overtime, when a misplaced pass by Kaprizov led to a Jets goal and sealed the Wild's fourth consecutive defeat. The mistake marked one of several giveaways in recent games, raising questions about the 24-year-old Russian's ability to control the puck in high-pressure situations.
Wild coach John Hynes acknowledged that Kaprizov is "highly competitive" and wants to win, but also noted that there are times when the team needs better decision-making. "It's not for a lack of effort or care," Hynes said. "I just think there are times where you have to have some better decisions... sometimes doing the wrong things for the right reasons."
Kaprizov's tendency to try to make a play has led to costly mistakes, particularly when his team is trailing. The Wild's coach recognizes that players like Kaprizov and Matt Boldy often want to help their teammates by making big plays, but this can lead to careless giveaways.
Despite the struggles, Kaprizov's on-ice production remains impressive. His power play success has been a key factor in the Wild's strong league performance, with the team scoring 31.8 percent of the time they have a man advantage.
The larger picture is that Kaprizov's desire to carry his team to victory can sometimes lead to mistakes. As Hynes noted, it's not about having too much fire or motivation, but rather making smart decisions in critical situations. With the Wild struggling to find consistency, Kaprizov's ability to balance production with prudence will be crucial in determining their season-long trajectory.
Meanwhile, former University of Minnesota forward Logan Cooley has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $10 million per year, while teammate Jackson LaCombe secured a deal that surpassed $9 million annually. The trend continues: young players from the Gophers' 2022-23 team are commanding significant contracts in the NHL.
my friend's bro is actually a sports journalist and he said kaprizov needs to work on his decision-making skills but at the same time, his power play stats are insane like what can you even do? 
and btw did u hear about logan cooley signing that 8-yr contract? i'm pretty sure he's gonna make bank 
but at what cost? I mean, 4 losses in a row is no joke, and it's all 'cause of those turnovers 
. He's tryin' to be that clutch player, makin' big plays left and right, but sometimes that means he's puttin' the ball on a string and losin' control 
. The coach is right, it's not about havin' too much heart or motivation, it's about makin' smart decisions when it counts. Kaprizov's gotta find that balance 'cause if he don't, the Wild's gonna struggle to make the playoffs 
. And them contracts for Logan Cooley and Jackson LaCombe? 
they're gettin' paid, but at what cost to their team's success?
I get it, he wants to make a play and help his team, but sometimes that just leads to mistakes 
. The guy is on FIRE with 15 points in 11 games tho 
, but consistency is key, right? 
I'm worried about Kaprizov's ability to control the puck in those high-pressure situations, but at the same time, I love his fire and drive 
! Coach Hynes said it all - it's not about having too much motivation, just making smart decisions 
. The Wild need Kaprizov to balance production with prudence if they wanna make a run for the playoffs 
. And btw, Logan Cooley and Jackson LaCombe are getting paid 
!
. Coach Hynes is right, he's highly competitive and wants to win, but you gotta make smart decisions when your team needs them most 
.
. And it's interesting that these young players from Minnesota are getting big contracts, maybe they're just expecting to be stars in the NHL from day one? 
? Anyway, back to hockey... I think it's cool that Kirill Kaprizov is having such a great season, but at the same time, turnovers are super important in hockey. Like, have you ever seen a goalie make a crazy save from like 50 feet away? Mind-blowing, right? 
he's making some amazing plays but at what cost? his team is getting destroyed every time it slips up and I'm not buying that "trying to do the right things for the wrong reasons" excuse 
. What if Kaprizov's just being used as a scapegoat for the team's struggles? I've got a bad feeling about this...
. Coach Hynes is right, making smart decisions in critical situations can't be compromised by individual desire for greatness. We need players who can balance production with prudence 
. Meanwhile, I think it's awesome that young Gophers like Logan Cooley and Jackson LaCombe are getting paid 
.
can't have players like him tryin 2 do it all by themselves 
He's trying to be too clever and it's costing them games. I get it, he's young and wants to win, but you gotta make smart decisions on the ice, you know? 
It's like Hynes said, sometimes doing things for the right reasons can lead to wrong results 
. Like, yeah, his power play skills are insane, but turnovers can really hurt your team in the long run. And it's not like he's doing it out of laziness or anything - I think it's just a case of being overly eager to contribute 
.
u r doin so good but turnovers r really hurtin ur team rn 
u gotta work on makin better decisions under pressure 
love how boldy & lacombe are gettin paid tho 