@@Minnesota Wild

Wild Player Grid | Day 3: Best (All-Time)

  • September 16, 2024


Day 2 saw Suter, Havlat, Hanzel and Parise mentioned as some of the most overrated players in franchise history. For Day 3, who’s the best player to ever play for the club?

31 comments

  5. I’m guessing people will say MAF since he’s a sure fire HoF guy and the Wild haven’t had any other looks at the hall but he won’t go in as a Wild player.

    As for someone that you’d say mainly as a wild player Gaborik, Parise (look at the goal tally), Koivu.

    Maybe Burns? But he’s spent more time away from the club.

    Or you go current and say Kaprizov.

  9. It’s Kiril.

    You could make an argument for Koivu but I think Kiril still has it. Here are the key career stats for **Kirill Kaprizov**, **Mikko Koivu**, and **Marian Gaborik** during their time with the Minnesota Wild:

    ### 1. **Kirill Kaprizov** (As of the 2023-2024 season)
    – **Seasons with Wild**: 4 (2020-present)
    – **Games Played**: 203
    – **Goals**: 114
    – **Assists**: 134
    – **Points**: 248
    – **Points per Game**: 1.22
    – **Notable Achievements**: Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year 2021), NHL All-Star.

    Kaprizov’s points-per-game ratio is among the best in Wild history, and he’s been a consistent game-changer since his debut.

    ### 2. **Mikko Koivu**
    – **Seasons with Wild**: 15 (2005-2020)
    – **Games Played**: 1,028
    – **Goals**: 205
    – **Assists**: 504
    – **Points**: 709
    – **Points per Game**: 0.69
    – **Notable Achievements**: Wild’s longest-serving captain, 1,000+ games with one team. Koivu was the face of the franchise for over a decade, known for his leadership and two-way play.

    ### 3. **Marian Gaborik**
    – **Seasons with Wild**: 8 (2000-2009)
    – **Games Played**: 502
    – **Goals**: 219
    – **Assists**: 218
    – **Points**: 437
    – **Points per Game**: 0.87
    – **Notable Achievements**: Holds the Wild record for most goals in a season (42), five-time NHL All-Star.

    **Edit**: Kap broke Gaborik’s record for most goals in a season with 47.

  18. Realistically it is kaprisov but I grew up with Marian on my wall and I cried when he won the cup. He’s my guy so I’m saying gaborik

  20. The crazy thing is Kaprizov is legit a front runner for the conversation and he’s not even close to being done with his career. He’s damn good.

  23. Who’s had the best career and played for the Wild, it’s without a doubt MAF. Who’s had the best career with the Wild it’s Kap. It just kinda depends how you read the question.

  25. Okay let me just throw my hat into the ring, even though it’s a done deal…

    Marian Gaborik made Minnesota an exciting team to watch for the first time more than 20 years ago. Kaprizov has obviously done an amazing job of this too but has half the games that Gaborik did. To say that Kaprizov is the best Wild player ever… I think it’s too soon.

    Now, I can say that when, not if, but when Kaprizov has another great season this year, I will then admit that he is the best Wild player ever.

    Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

  26. Kaprizov. He is the best player to ever suit up for the Wild. 

    It is not close, even when you factor in their entire careers  Burns has had a great career but was playing with (likely) multiple HoFers in Thornton, Marleau, and Pavelski.

    Fleury is an aggregator who played behind the best 1-2 punch of that era in Crosby and Malkin. His stats are undeniable, but he also lost his job in the postseason multiple times.

    Kaprizov has always been the best player on this team without the supporting cast other greats who have suited up with the Wild had elsewhere.

Leave a Reply