Novokuznetsk, Russia, is more than 5,600 miles from the Twin Cities, a daunting travel situation to begin with. And with COVID-19 causing travel and attendance restrictions during the 2020-21 NHL season, Kirill Kaprizov's parents didn't get the chance to see their son play an NHL game in person.
That changed over the weekend, when Oleg and Natasha made it to New York to watch Kirill, the Wild's second-year star forward, play against the Rangers on Friday and the Islanders on Sunday. After the Islanders game, in which Kirill had a goal and an assist, they traveled to Minnesota to stay with their son and will accompany him when he makes his NHL All-Star Game debut this weekend in Las Vegas.
"It feels great," Kaprizov said through an interpreter after Tuesday's practice. "Every player can relate to having their mother and father there to be able to hug them after the game, to have them watch their games. It's amazing."
Kaprizov, whose English is improving, continues to adapt to life in Minnesota. On the ice, though, the transition has been nearly seamless.
He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie last season after collecting 27 goals and 24 assists in 55 games. He's taken his play to another level this season, with 18 goals and 34 assists in 39 games, helping the Wild forge a 27-10-3 record entering Wednesday's game at Chicago.
That has led to his first All-Star Game selection, an experience he's embracing and will share with his parents in attendance.
"The whole experience is going to be amazing," he said. "It's high-level hockey and very skilled hockey. It's going to be very fun and exciting to play. But overall, just excited about the whole experience."
First, though, was catching up with his parents. He hasn't yet gotten some Russian home cooking from his mother during their visit, but he's waiting patiently.
