Kirill Kaprizov is in the penultimate season of his contract with the Minnesota Wild, and General Manager Bill Guerin has previously indicated that securing victories would be an effective strategy to persuade the 27-year-old Russian winger to commit to a long-term future in Minnesota. Early indicators suggest this approach is yielding positive results, as the Wild currently sit third in the overall league standings. Kaprizov, a former fifth-round pick, is experiencing a stellar start to the season, producing at a remarkable rate that, if sustained, could lead to career highs in goals (49), assists (104), and points (153). This uptick in performance has contributed to Minnesota's strong presence in the B/R Power Rankings, where they have recently advanced from fifth to third place following a staff-wide voting process.
This resurgence marks a significant turnaround for a franchise that missed the playoffs in the previous season and has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2015, when Kaprizov was still a teenager playing in the Kontinental Hockey League. However, not all teams are enjoying success at this point in the season. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators have struggled considerably, with the Penguins sliding from 25th to 28th in the rankings and the Predators dropping from 29th to 31st, placing them near the bottom of the league. The rankings were determined through a voting system that allocated points from 32 for the first-place team down to one for the last-place team.
Examining the bottom of the rankings, the Montreal Canadiens have scored only twelve goals during a six-game losing streak and managed just a single point in overtime. However, they made a slight turnaround recently with a seven-goal performance in a win against the Buffalo Sabres. Coach Martin St. Louis acknowledged the team's efforts, noting, 'I think the group had had enough. We weren't perfect, but we played good hockey.' Meanwhile, the Predators have struggled to convert a busy offseason into on-ice success, resulting in four losses in five games. The San Jose Sharks, after a recent win followed by a loss in Philadelphia, will be continuing their road trip against the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh before returning home. The month has not been kind to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have had sent a rough start marked by a poor record and significant goal differential.
As the league progresses, various teams are experiencing oscillations in performance which have impacted their standings and morale. Teams like the Minnesota Wild are riding a wave of success that could shape their trajectories for the remainder of the season, while others seek to break free from troubling trends that threaten their competitiveness.
