Kirill Kaprizov

Kaprizov was widely viewed as the best player not currently in the NHL upon his arrival in Minnesota in the fall of 2020, but even his most optimistic supporters wouldn't have envisioned him posting 47 goals and 108 points in 81 games in just his second season with the Wild. Kaprizov is a true franchise-altering talent. He's equally adept at both playmaking and finishing his own chances. Kaprizov shot the puck more a season ago, finishing with 289 shots on net, and if he keeps firing that type of volume, he's going to score 50 goals sooner rather than later. Add in Kaprizov's production with the man advantage - 31 points a season ago - and you have a player who will cost a first-round pick in fantasy drafts this fall, and likely be well worth it.

A former star in his native Russia, Kaprizov's first NHL campaign was exceptional. He led all freshmen in goals (27), points (51), and shots on goal (157) on his way to claiming the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. Kaprizov missed just one game all season and that was for rest purposes as the Wild prepared for their first-round playoff series with Vegas, which they ultimately lost in seven. Kaprizov's hockey IQ is through the roof and he's deadly in open space. He has the look of a perennial NHL All-Star, with the lone concern at this point being his contract. Kaprizov is already a restricted free agent. Minnesota has offered big money on a long-term deal (think 7-8 years), but Kaprizov reportedly prefers a shorter (3-4 years) contract. This should be settled well before camp but keep an eye on it heading into your draft.

Kaprizov will come to the NHL with plenty of hype after putting up 33 goals and 62 points in 57 appearances with CSKA Moscow of the KHL last year. A fifth-round pick from 2015, Kaprizov has shown steady growth while playing a significant role with one of the best teams in his native Russia. He's expected to slot into a top-six role in 2020-21 and should provide a boost to a Wild offense that averaged a solid 3.16 goals per game last year. The left wing is still an unknown quantity in North America, but he'll be worth a look in deeper formats as a forward with 40-point upside.

The Wild selected Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft (135th overall). Since then, he's spent the entirety of his time playing in the KHL, albeit for three different clubs. Kaprizov has tallied 82 points in 95 games over the past two seasons, splitting time between Ufa Salavat Yulayev and CSKA Moscow. A former captain of Russia's World Junior team, Kaprizov has been a special player in the KHL for a few years now, including being named to two consecutive KHL All-Star games. Unfortunately for Minnesota, he signed a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow almost a year ago and is unlikely to play in the NHL anytime soon.