The story surrounding Kirill Kaprizov centers on potential hurdles tied to a controversially purchased military ticket and the long pause from military duties ahead of his return to competitive play.
He should have smooth sailing in the National Hockey League next season now that he has reached Minnesota, the home state of the Wild where he plies his trade.
Reports from the Star Tribune confirm that Kaprizov landed in Minneapolis on August 1 with no visa entry issues this time around.
Previously, this trip marked his third attempt to reach the United States, following refusals to board flights from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates due to Russia facing problems with an expired work visa.
According to his representatives, starting with his father, there were no acknowledged problems. Minnesota’s general manager Bill Guerin called the situation around the team’s star player sensitive and voiced some reservations about the circumstances.
American reporters note that Kaprizov’s agent and lawyers worked diligently to ensure his swift return to the U.S. He had planned to spend another five weeks of vacation at home.
In his first NHL season, Kaprizov produced 51 points in 55 regular-season games, with 24 goals and 27 assists, earning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. After signing a five-year deal worth $9 million per season, he emerged as a true league star, tallying 108 points in 81 games (47 goals, 61 assists) in the following season.
Given these accomplishments, it is understandable that some observers worry about the fate of Kaprizov, especially in light of a high-profile incident involving former CSKA goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, who entered the army after signing with the Philadelphia Flyers in May.
Ovechkin, Panarin and Trusova share the ice
While Kaprizov handles nerves and North American travel, other Russian hockey greats are enjoying time off on their vacations and appearances around the sport. The moment when Alexander Ovechkin, playing for Dynamo, stepped onto the ice against Amkal and opened the scoring sent shockwaves worldwide.
Ovechkin remains active in charity events and recently took part in a high-profile exhibition game as the Washington Capitals captain. He wasn’t alone on the ice for the showcase. Alexander Radulov, Vadim Shipachev, Vyacheslav Voinov, Dmitry Orlov, Pavel Buchnevich, Vladislav Gavrikov, Yegor Chinakhov, Andrey Nikolishin, and footballer Dmitry Sychev joined the match.
Even Valery Nichushkin, who broke his foot in the Stanley Cup final, managed to skate in. Nichushkin’s father-in-law, legend Oleg Znarok, served as a mentor to Panarin’s team, while Znarok himself currently guides Ak Bars Kazan.
Also in attendance were entertainers Azamat Musagaliev, Denis Dorokhov, Viktor Komarov and Nurlan Saburov, along with figure skating stars Adelina Sotnikova and the formidable Alexandra Trusova, a Beijing 2022 silver medalist noted for her quad jumps around the world. Trusova delivered a commanding performance with a bullet-like entry and a precise, controlled routine that included a console move held with a stick in hand, a striking display for the crowd.
Ovechkin even brought his three-year-old son Sergei to the ice, taking a few shots on goal with notable accuracy. In competitive spirit, the day finished with a draw after regular time and a tied series of shootouts, underscoring the camaraderie that often transcends international borders in the sport.