Kirill Kaprizov back to KHL?

[EdwardJ]

Hi everyone - just giving everyone a quick heads up, I'm sure some already know, but rumour has it Kaprizov could be going back to the KHL.

If that's the case, I'd probably sell if I owned any of him. I'm sure his cards would take a complete dive if he does.

https://www.hockeywilderness.com/202...w-trade-rumors

[Hollywood42]

Dude went back home for a buddy's wedding. This is a complete non story

[Giroux]

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

Dude went back home for a buddy's wedding. This is a complete non story

Hope so but Weekes isn't someone that puts BS out there I don't think.

Not sure how the Olympics is relevant as NHL players will be there anyway.

[discostu]

If he returns to the KHL to play (and that's a big "if"), he would probably come back once he's a UFA in a few years.

[BaseballKing]

Are you trying to drive down his prices?

[Giroux]

It's likely just posturing for contract purposes, at least I hope

[EdwardJ]

Originally Posted by BaseballKing

Are you trying to drive down his prices?

Yes, I’m hoping my blowout forums post will bring down the whole Kaprizov market and I’d sneak in and own all of them

[EdwardJ]

Originally Posted by discostu

If he returns to the KHL to play (and that's a big "if"), he would probably come back once he's a UFA in a few years.

Yeah I’d think the same. That would suck for Minnesota, coming off a great year and finally get a big offensive player

If anything maybe it’s just Kaprizov handcuffing them into paying a ton on his terms

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by Giroux

Hope so but Weekes isn't someone that puts BS out there I don't think.

Think again. Kevin Weekes is an idiot as far as I'm concerned and really can't be trusted or taken seriously.
When he played here in Vancouver he almost missed a game because, he said, he was robbed.
This below from the Vancouver Sun newspaper coverage on his being traded out of Vancouver for Felix Potvin-

"However, the last straw likely occurred on Dec. 2, a night the Canucks were playing the Edmonton Oilers at home.

Weekes was supposed to be on the bench as a backup, still not 100 per cent, according to him, but willing to play if the starter got hurt. But as game time approached Kevin Weekes was nowhere to be found.

About five minutes before his team was to head out on the ice for the pre-game skate, Weekes finally showed up. And with the most incredible tale.

According to sources, Weekes told the coaching staff and team security he’d been robbed. His story went like this.

On his way to the game, he’d gone into a dry cleaner in downtown Vancouver to pick up some items he’d dropped off earlier. When he walked out of the shop, he was approached by a man.

”Are you Kevin Weekes?” the man allegedly asked.

”Yes.”

”Follow me,” he said.

At this point, Weekes told coaches and team security, the robber hopped in his car and started driving.

Weekes hopped in his and followed the guy across the Granville Street Bridge to an alley somewhere in the Granville Island area.

The guy asked for any money Weekes was carrying and the player handed over several hundred dollars in bills. There was no gun involved.

And that, said Kevin Weekes, was why he was late.

Most found the tale too bizarre to believe. Why would he get in his car and follow a criminal?

Why wouldn’t he drive to the police station?

Why wouldn’t he get on his cell phone to police?

There also seemed to be discrepancies in his story. At one point he said he was approached by the man leaving his apartment. Then it was when he was leaving the dry cleaners. He couldn’t describe the robber.

Then Weekes insisted the police not investigate.

Most around the team felt Weekes was late because he had simply slept through his alarm. But instead of admitting it, he concocted this grandiose story about a robbery.

Sources indicate GM Brian Burke went ”ballistic” when the story was conveyed to him. Marc Crawford was also not amused.

To them, it again spoke to a lack of character. They were concerned how this latest episode would be regarded by Weekes’ teammates. Would they lose all faith in him? Would they play hard in front of him?

For their part, the players regarded the robbery story mostly with amusement.

”Did they catch the bad guy yet?” the players joked.

In truth, however, few really cared if Weekes did make the story up to save himself the embarrassment of admitting he’d slept through his alarm.

”As long as he stopped the puck,” said one player. ”That’s all we cared about.”

But it was too late. Less than three weeks later, Weekes was no longer a Canuck."

[ZappBrannigan]

Nobody cares if this guy goes home. Cya.

[lambeauleap87]

Originally Posted by Giroux

It's likely just posturing for contract purposes, at least I hope

I would absolutely wager that this is just a negotiation move since things seem to be going poorly between Kaprizov and the Wild, although you can never count a team like CSKA Moscow out.

[Hollywood42]

I'm sure his agent is just using this opportunity to make a leverage play, as is his job. The actual likelihood of Kap actually going back to Russia is extremely low. The Wild will try to do what's most advantageous for them, of course, as will Kaprizov, but the Wild aren't just gonna admit defeat and not get an extension done and lose the most electric player we've had since Gaborik. That'd be an immediate fireable offense for Guerin who has really only made good moves since taking over

The Wild may end up paying way more than they'd like, but there's simply no way they let Kap go back to Russia. There's still lots of time for a deal to be reached. In the meantime, the rumor mill will do it's thing, but this still really shouldn't be news at this point

Originally Posted by lambeauleap87

I would absolutely wager that this is just a negotiation move since things seem to be going poorly between Kaprizov and the Wild, although you can never count a team like CSKA Moscow out.

Originally Posted by Giroux

It's likely just posturing for contract purposes, at least I hope

[Giroux]

Originally Posted by ZappBrannigan

Nobody cares if this guy goes home. Cya.

That's just false. Great player and a treat to watch. Minny has had a tough time building a legit contender.

With Kaprisov ripping it up and Rossi and Boldy on the way they actually have some legit players that are also fun guys to watch.

[creasecollector]

Originally Posted by Giroux

It's likely just posturing for contract purposes, at least I hope

My cousin is in the NHL and this move is common. The KHL threat might spook teams into locking their player down for more $$$.

Not saying this is Kaprizov's case, but it does happen a lot more than people think behind closed doors. It's drummed up by the agent.

[DynastyCentral]

Not to mention that Kaprizov's agent is the former playing agent of Kevin Weekes so of course Weekes might throw out some fake news to posture for his former agent to get the contract negotiations into national hockey coverage which it definitely did.

Meanwhile Kap being in Moscow was known for a couple weeks when Kap told Wild FO that he was going to be there for a wedding.

Kaprizov isn't going anywhere except re-signing in Minnesota, The agent wants 3 years, GMBG wants 8 years, I expect they'll settle for something like 9M per for 4 or 5 seasons

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by DynastyCentral

Not to mention that Kaprizov's agent is the former playing agent of Kevin Weekes so of course Weekes might throw out some fake news to posture for his former agent to get the contract negotiations into national hockey coverage which it definitely did.

Yup- totally a Kevin Weekes move. Guy is not to be trusted.

[lambeauleap87]

Kaprizov and his agent are making sure they get exactly what they want. Helps to have a monster KHL deal in hand.

https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/...79499527794688

[PejaD]

I assume it is all posturing. I can't remember the last time a young, All-Star NHLer bolted for the KHL?

[BaseballKing]

I heard he was seen chillin at Vladimir Putin's 200 million dollar Palace. There could be more to this than people want to admit.

I recently traded my only Kaprizov YG ( with Tkachuk YG) for another Laffy YG on the strength of this latest 'development'.

[Hollywood42]

I'm a huge Kirill fan but I'm getting real tired of this. I get it's the game you play, but the dude has less than a full season in the NHL under his belt, didn't do much in the playoffs, and already wants to be paid like one of the league's best players. The Wild have waited years for him to come over, burned a year of his contract to get him here, offered him *multiple* franchise-highest contracts, AND even if he were to go back to the KHL he still doesn't have the ability to sign with any other NHL team for 3 more years. I'm all for players getting paid what they're worth and this was never going to be a hometown discount situation, but Kirill/his agent are working the Wild into a bad situation

I do still think this is more posturing and positioning than anything and eventually the Wild will work out a deal. But I can't wait for this to be over

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by BaseballKing

I heard he was seen chillin at Vladimir Putin's 200 million dollar Palace.....

Care to elaborate?

[Westwave]

There is big money for these guys to stay in Russia if they want to. Many don't thus why this seems like an oddity. I don't think it's posturing but I could be wrong.

[mrb842]

Guerin is one of the rising stars in the NHL, no way this guy gets away.

[valleynuckfan]

Where do you draw the line on salary? Sure he's a young star but does he really deserve more than $9M per after a single season? The rumour is 8 figures in the K so $10M or more.
Guerin will be handcuffed on this one I think.

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by mrb842

Guerin is one of the rising stars in the NHL, no way this guy gets away.

Agreed.

He moved seamlessly in a FO role with the Pens after he retired and just excelled at every step.

However I don’t think he has full control over the outcome based on Kirill’s reported demands.

He’s not a top player in the league.