The first day of Wild camp is in the books.

Kirill Kaprizov was in the ice with the full Wild team for the first time and here is what The Atheltic's, Michael Russo, had to say about the kid.

"Bar down on Cam Talbot. Batted one out of midair on Hunter Jones. Changed direction, then snapped a sly, against-the-grain laser on Dereck Baribeau.

It wasn’t fun being a Wild goalie Monday, but it was fun being a media member because we finally learned once and for all that Kirill Kaprizov is an actual, real person.

And he’s really, really good." - Michael Russo - The Athletic.

Zach Parise fresh off the disappointment of not being named Wild captain, hit the ice as a true pro. The Wild are blessed with having very professional veterans and Zach is one of them. Jared Spurgeon is a deserving captain and he is absolutely a team first guy, always has been and always will be. Ryan Suter rounds out the leadership trio for the Wild and that is a good a group as one can find across the NHL.

Kaprizov skated on a line centered by Nick Bjugstad, with Parise on the left wing. The original plan to have Marcus Johansson at center did not materialize, at least for the first day as he slotted in on his natural left wing with Nick Bonino. Kevin Fiala was absent the first day from what appears to be precautionary reasons.

Thw Wild checking line of Joel Eriksson Ek, Jordan Greenway, and Markus Foligno have the ability to be one if the better shut down lines in the NHL, should they stay together. After all it is just the first day of camp.

Marco Rossi has arrived after his Austrian tram was bounced from the WJC, and is going through the quarantine protocol before he can officially hit the ice with his new team. Rossi can play up to 6 games before the Wild have to make the decision to burn the first year of his ELC or send him back to Austria.

This will be a fun season regardless of how the Wild end up, because there is hope for a far brighter and more exciting Wild product on the ice. Enjoy this Wild fans it has been a long time in the making and this is all part of the process.

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