It sometimes feels lazy to compare the trajectories of Russian players to each other. Just because they were born within the same borders doesn’t even come close to meaning that they are similar players on the ice, and possibly not similar at all off of it. There’s just tinge of generalization that doesn’t sit right.
But, when looking at Matvei Michkov coming over, I can’t seem to stop thinking about Kirill Kaprizov’s grand entrance into the NHL with the Minnesota Wild. Perhaps because it is just the most recent that got this much attention from across the continent; or, because that is the other team that I covered outside of the Philadelphia Flyers when this blog was back with Vox and SB Nation, as I ran Hockey Wilderness while serving up some blogs over here (that has now changed, of course).
Now that there is context provided as to why this comparison feels right — beyond just the way they elevate their teammates, are not afraid to get physical, and their vision might be the most underrated part of their game — Kaprizov’s start in the league was graciously helped by becoming absolute best friends with teammate and linemate Mats Zuccarello. It might feel little too fan-fictiony to really go on and on about a friendship that we only get glimpses of on the Wild’s social media and on the ice, but it really is a thing. There is a reason why the Wild re-signed a 37-year-old Zuccarello to a two-year contract extension that keeps him around for the exact length until Kaprizov’s current contract is up.
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