“St. Louis” beat “Minnesota” without a chance in the sixth game of the first round of the Stanley Cup. Fans of the “savages” were disappointed with the spineless game of the team. Only one hockey player escaped large-scale criticism – Kirill Kaprizov, who pulled the team on himself all season, and even took a temporary lead in the number of goals in the playoffs.

The Russian striker was the main star of Minnesota throughout the season: he updated several club records at once, got into the top 5 NHL top scorers and made thousands of local fans fall in love with him. All the more offensive for a hockey player with such talent and potential to end the season in the first round of the Stanley Cup. But hockey is a team game, and the actions of one hockey player on the ice cannot decide the fate of the whole series. And American fans understand this very well.

“He tried to put the team on the rails, but it has too many passengers,” writes icehockeyjunkie.

“Kaprizov was the best in this series and deserved much more,” says SKORNorth.

“Looking at Kaprizov is something incredible,” admits MindbulletsDK. “But he needs help, and Minnesota can’t afford it.

The Wild doesn’t really have much room under the salary cap. They have only $1.5 million left this season. At the same time, in the summer, Minnesota will need to think about renewing contracts with at least two players: forward Kevin Fiala, who, however, did not show anything worthwhile in the playoffs, and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Both of them will become free agents.

Photo: © REUTERS / Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

“I feel so sorry for Kaprizov,” Auz9322 regrets. “An incredible player who left his heart on the ice. I hope that the club will solve their problems with the salary cap, and he will remain in the team. Minnesota fans deserve better.

Despite Kaprizov’s current contract with the Wild, many fans began to worry that the star player would soon demand a trade. After all, this season he showed that his potential is much higher, something that the team is counting on.

“This Minnesota is not made for the playoffs,” KalishaTownsell muses. – Many say: let the youth develop, but Kaprizov will not want to go through the formation phase. He wants to win!

“I hope the general manager will sort out this chaos with the salary cap and start building a team around Kaprizov,” kerry61219 comments on the situation. “He’s just a genius.

“It’s time to start trying, otherwise Kaprizov will leave and take half the Wild fans with him,” suggests firearmofmutiny.

“Sooner or later, Kaprizov will get tired of pulling the team on himself,” CreaseAndAssist thinks. And he wants to go to the winning team.

“Just wait and you will see: in the next two years, Kaprizov will demand an exchange,” prophesies Skolney79.

“If Kaprizov can’t win here, he’ll just leave,” rk2022 agrees. He only thinks about winning.

Photo: © REUTERS / Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Fans experienced similar fears in the summer, when the story of signing Kaprizov dragged on. It was obvious that the Russian was in no hurry to sign the longest possible contract with the middle peasants of the NHL – and doom himself to stagnation. After all, Minnesota last won a playoff series seven years ago!

Some fans, once again disappointed with the team’s performance, suggested not to torture the Russian striker, whose contract with the Wild will expire only in 2026.

“Sell Kaprizov,” PrimeJeffers turned to the general manager. – He deserves more.

– It does not deserve whims, – snapped mnsports07. “If he demands an exchange, I will understand. In this team, he is just wasting his career.

“Give Kaprizov to a club that wants to lead him to victory,” called 6L4KE. – And this team is just laughter.

“Looks like Kaprizov is so tired of all this,” suggested linfieldwild. “Just trade the poor guy right now!” Hey, Capitals, save him.