Sammi’s Daily: Kaprizov Safe, Back In U.S. Per Reports; Capitals, NHL Updates

The Minnesota Wild will have their NHL All-Star on board to open the 2021-22 campaign, as Kirill Kaprizov is reportedly safe and back in North America after returning from Russia.

Per The Athletic’s Michael Russo, sources said that Kaprizov left Russia late last week, heading to Turkey before flying to New York City. He will Minnesota on Tuesday ahead of training camp, which starts in late September.

Kaprizov went back home over the offseason, where allegations started to come out against him. In early July, the 25-year-old was reportedly wanted in Russia for allegedly purchasing a fake military ID back in 2017. He had twice tried to enter the U.S. through Dubai but was denied after not having his work visa.

Under Russian law, all male citizens aged 18-27 must serve at least one year of active military duty in the armed forces. Kaprizov, a student of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, can defer military obligations.

It is unclear where the allegations stand. They mainly caused a stir after the arrest of Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov. Fedotov, who announced he would leave CSKA Moscow, a team with close ties to the Russian military, for Philly this year, was detained outside of an ice rink in St. Petersburg. Authorities took him to a detainment office. There, he reportedly fell ill. After staying at a hospital, Fedotov was deployed to an Arctic naval base for his mandatory year of service. Under Russian law, all male citizens aged 18-27 must serve at least one year in the armed forces.

Here is the latest on the Kaprizov situation, as well as all the other news and notes from D.C. and across the NHL:

Washington Capitals Links

• Although there is now heavy competition on the Capitals blue line, don’t count out Lucas Johansen for a full-time NHL job. (WHN)
• Washington will get a clearer update on Carl Hagelin as he goes for another checkup in August. (WHN)
• Martin Fehervary is putting in work and is going to come back stronger for the Capitals this season — literally. (WHN)
• David Gucciardi wants to show what he can do with Washington as a dark horse prospect. (WHN)

NHL Links

• The New York Islanders are reportedly ready to bring Nazem Kadri on board, and now it’s just a matter of creating cap space. (NYIHN)
• Meanwhile, there’s still business to be done in NHL Free Agency. (Detroit Hockey Now)
• Evgenii Dadonov is known right now as the player who the Montreal Canadiens got for Shea Weber. However, he wants to be so much more than that. (MHN)
• Here’s how Kaprizov got back to the States. (The Athletic)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Conor Sheary took the ice with his daughter, Mila, as he prepares for the upcoming season in D.C. He also looks like he’s having fun while getting in shape.

(Instagram/jordansheary)

• Speaking of Sheary, I also think he gets an extension this season. He showed that he can be the 20-goal guy and a jack-of-all-trades that can fit anywhere. General manager Brian MacLellan said those conversations haven’t taken place yet.
• If Hagelin doesn’t return to the lineup in 2022-23, I can see Marcus Johansson taking over for him on the fourth line — and also thriving there.
• Also, we’ve reopened the WHN Mailbag. Send in your best questions, and I’ll give my best answers. You can tweet them @sammisilber, as well as tweet @wshhockey.

It's August. So just a couple of months away from he start of the 2022-23 NHL season.

AKA time to open the WHN Mailbag – Send all your Capitals, NHL, life questions my way and I'll answer in our next column.

And… go. 📪

— Sammi Silber (@sammisilber) August 1, 2022