Less than a year ago, Kirill Kaprizov caused some shockwaves when he said that the Minnesota Wild weren';t too interested in him. The young forward had a good
season in the meanwhile, not only in the KHL, but also winning a gold medal at the Olympics, scoring the overtime game-winner against Team Germany. He will also represent Russia at the upcoming IIHF World Championship in Denmark. In this translated interview, originally appearing on the Russian website Sport-Express, Kirill Kaprizov said that the communications with the Wild are now better, discussed the Olympics, and talked about his season with the CSKA Moscow.Kirill Kaprizov during a 2018 KHL playoffs game (Photo: Elena Rusko, www.cska-hockey.ru)

* You can enjoy the original Russian interview by Alexei Shevchenko here *

Alexei Shevchenko: It looks like SKA and CSKA players can be more tired than other players [on Team Russia roster] after all those games.

Kirill Kaprizov: There';s some tiredness, of course, but I can';t say it';s a critical situation. Even if we played a lot of games, both for the club and the
national team. And at the Olympics too.

AS: After the Olympics, you had a lot of media events going on. What did you like the best?

KK: When we visited Vladimir Putin.Kirill Kaprizov listens to the Russian hymn before a 2018 KHL playoffs game (Photo: Vadim Kitayev, www.ak-bars.ru)

AS: That';s not a media event.

KK: That was, anyway, the event that I remember the most. We had to wait for the president for a bit, then we had an official meeting. It was very interesting.

AS: Did he recognize you?

KK: I don';t know, there were no special words there. He just thanked every one
of us with the same words.

AS: How did you spend your Olympic Gold prize money?

KK: I gave my BMW to my father, now he';s riding in Novokuznetsk with it. I haven';t spent the prize money yet.

AS: At the start of the season you were worried as you couldn';t get home.

KK: And I could not. I would have needed to take a plane on nights, spend a day
at home, and again to fly on the night. Well, soon we';ll have our vacations. I';ll fly back home right away, then I';ll spend some time on the Altai mountains. I haven';t decided what to do next.

AS: What was the question that you hear more often during the media events?

KK: What did you feel when you win? That';s a very popular question, I had that
question given every single time. No one asked us what were we feeling when we were down in the score against the Germans.

AS: I ask you myself then.

KK: It was hard for us, we all started worrying. I didn';t see a single calm player on the bench, I was in a little shock myself. By the way, I have been asked a lot also about the goal.Kirill Kaprizov during a 2018 KHL playoffs game
(Photo: Elena Rusko, www.cska-hockey.ru)

AS: Did you manage to see Korea?

KK: No, I haven';t seen anything. I had some walks with my parents during the free days, but I can';t say that I have studied the country.

AS: How did you like live in four-men flats during the Olympics?

KK: We were five! But we had three bedrooms, I was sleeping in the bigger one, that was crossed by everyone. But I didn';t have any problem with sleeping. Once I fall asleep, then it';s impossible to wake me up.

AS: The most important question is probably this: did you get that the tournament wasn';t at the highest level?

KK: There were no NHL players. Ok, that';s clear, but what could I do about it?
It wasn';t my fault.

AS: That';s logical.

KK: We still had to win, and winning is never easy. I really liked the Germans in Korea, they surprised everyone.

AS: The IIHF World Championship in Korea will be a different tournament.

KK: I got it, I really want to play against Canada. I want to have a look at Connor McDavid. They do have a good roster.Connor McDavid will skate for Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Championship (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

AS: Team Russia changed the coach.

KK: I can';t say that it';s truly different. Our game changed a little, but the
environment is still the same.

AS: Oh, don';t tell me.

KK: I';m serious. I always liked to play for the national team. You can see yourself that often I play better for the national team than for my club.

AS: One year ago you said that the Minnesota Wild weren';t too interested in you. What about now?

KK: Now we are constantly in touch.

AS: Wow. And what does this mean?

KK: What should it mean? I';ll spend the next year with CSKA. I';ll be in the KHL even after, I';m under contract until 2020.(Kirill Kaprizov during a 2017-18 KHL game. Photo: cska-hockey.ru)

AS: Andrei Mironov went there with a valid KHL contract.

KK: We didn';t talk about it, and in any case, I doubt [CSKA] will let me go. I';ll decide after my contract runs out.

AS: Do you want to go?

KK: Each player wants to go [to the NHL]. But no one is going to guarantee me a
spot on the roster. I';ll have to fight for that.

AS: You had a good season in CSKA.

KK: I didn';t play well in the playoffs. It has been a strange season. I started well, then I had a couple of series when I couldn';t score for 15 games.

AS: Maybe CSKA isn';t your team?

KK: Why?

AS: In Ufa you scored some 60 points, in CSKA the team has its own system that won';t help you reach such a level.Kirill Kaprizov with Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Photo: Vadim Kitayev, www.ak-bars.ru)

KK: I doubt it. And what system? I couldn';t score on an empty net, it was my fault, not the coach';s fault. The problem was in myself. Even in my worst moments, our coach Igor Nikitin wasn';t crazy at me, only in the locker room Nikita Nesterov would approach me and ask when I start scoring.

AS: You did score with the national team.

KK: Yes, it was strange. I started scoring since the start and I played well. I';m not sure about the true reason. I didn';t play any different and the coaches didn';t prohibit me anything. But with CSKA I couldn';t get the puck in
the net.

AS: Something has changed for you since that season in Ufa?

KK: It looks like I still am the same I was before. I just have more confidence
now.

The post Kirill Kaprizov: The Olympics, CSKA and the Wild appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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