"It's go time" "I could cry" - NHL fans react to big Kirill Kaprizov injury update

Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov is set to return Thursday against Utah. He hasn’t played since Dec. 23 against the Chicago Blackhawks, missing 12 games while on long-term injured reserve. Before his injury, Kaprizov had been in great form, scoring five goals and two assists in his last six games.

The team also activated captain Jared Spurgeon from injured reserve, further strengthening the lineup. The Wild announced on X (formerly Twitter):

“The #mnwild has activated forward Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon from Injured Reserve.”

As the news was announced, fans shared their excitement in the comment section.

“I could cry.” One fan said.

“It’s go time!!!!” Another simply wrote.

"Now the team is back together after holding up nicely while they were out. The key to this team will be success in the playoffs. No more 'one and done," a fan reacted.

Kaprizov is expected to return to the first line and rejoin the top power-play unit. His scoring and playmaking will give the Wild a much-needed boost as they push for the playoffs.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X:

"Kirill the Thrill is BACK BABY," a fan wrote.

"Let’s go baby! Cup time," another fan wrote.

"It's a good thing, but it will be interesting to see how long it will take or if they will be able to get back to the level they were playing at before these injuries started piling up. I hope it all works out quickly, but realistically, I fear it might not be easy." a fan shared his doubt.

Both Kaprizov and Spurgeon returning simultaneously give Minnesota hope for a strong finish to the season.

Kirill Kaprizov was off to an impressive start before injury

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) is congratulated by teammates after a goal. (Credits: Getty)

Kirill Kaprizov has been a top contributor for the Minnesota Wild this season. He has 23 goals and 27 assists in only 34 games. In Wild wins, he scored 19 goals and added 20 assists, earning a rating of 21. He recorded four goals and seven assists in team defeats, earning a rating of -5 to demonstrate Minnesota's dependence. Kaprizov has had seven three-point games this season and scored two goals in six games.

This is Kirill Kaprizov’s fifth season with the Wild. He was drafted 135th overall in 2015. So far, he has 183 goals and 197 assists in 312 career games. His best season was in 2021-22 when he scored 47 goals and 61 assists for a career-high 108 points. Kaprizov remains a key player for Minnesota as they work toward a successful season.