Unconfirmed reports from Russia spark speculation about Kirill Kaprizov
The immediate future of the Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov is currently the subject of speculation after unconfirmed reports from Russia suggest he is wanted by authorities investigating military service evasion.
The reports were published on Wednesday and quickly spread on social media, suggesting that the Wild star could be caught up in an investigation that has seen a man arrested for allegedly selling fraudulent military IDs to hockey players.
The Associated Press reported this past week that Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov was picked up in Russia as he prepared to depart for the U.S., with his agent saying he is now stationed at a remote military base in northern Russia. Local reports in Russia suggest he was arrested for allegedly trying to evade military service.
There is no official confirmation however that Kaprizov is wanted. Reports from Russian media are being treated with skepticism given the nation's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which in turn has seen the Vladimir Putin regime escalate its propaganda efforts domestically.
A report from the Sport-Express in Russia alleges that Kaprizov bought a military ID in 2017 – something his father denies, and also claims that Kaprizov had returned to the U.S. following Fetodov's apparent detainment.
The Sport-Express cites the source of these allegations as being the SHOT Telegram subscription service in Russia, and acknowledges that the claims being made by the organization "needs serious verification," with no official comments received by state authorities.
The Athletic's Minnesota Wild reporter Michael Russo has debunked the claim that Kaprizov has returned, citing a Wild source who says that Kaprizov is not currently in the United States.
Regarding reports that Kirill Kaprizov is wanted in Russia for allegedly buying a military ID in 2017 and has returned to the United States, a #mnwild source says he is not in the U.S. Obviously this is a complicated story and I'm working to see if there's merit.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 6, 2022
Wild general manager Bill Guerin also told Russo that the team is currently sorting out information to confirm if the report is accurate.
Bill Guerin on #mnwild’s Kirill Kaprizov reports: “We're trying to find out as much as we can, but we're not worried too much about it. We're not going to push the panic button. We're just trying to gather information and find out if this is even credible.”
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 6, 2022
Bring Me The News has reached out for further information from the Wild, but the team has not yet issued any official statement.
There had been concerns raised at the start of the hockey off-season about the future status of Russian players given the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Russo and Dan Robson reported for The Athletic last week that Wild GM Bill Guerin had asked Kaprizov if he would stay in the U.S., but Kaprizov wanted to return as he hadn't seen much of his family or friends the past year.
Raised on the Isle of Man, Adam has 15 years experience as a reporter and editor at regional and national level in the U.K. and the U.S. He moved to Minnesota in 2014 and became a writer for Bring Me The News. He is now the co-owner and editor of Bring Me The News and Bring Me The Sports, mixing in some occasional sports writing with his other editorial duties. He lists his three great loves as his family, Liverpool F.C. and baked beans (the British kind).