Kirill Kaprizov won't compete in any of the eight Skills competitions for the second straight year.
The NHL announced its participants for the skills competitions for this year and Kirill Kaprizov will not be competing in any of them for the second straight year.
The skills categories are - accuracy shooting, stick handling, hardest shot, passing challenge, one-timers, and fastest skater. Kaprizov will not be participating in any of these despite being one of the more flashy players in the league.
Wild fans have been treated with between-the-legs dekes, incredible passes, and gorgeous one-timer-type goals by Kaprizov for the last four years but now on the National stage, Kaprizov won't be able to show off his All-Star level skills.
He will of course compete in the 3-on-3 tournament on Saturday as he was drafted with the 11th pick by Nathan MacKinnon and Tate McRae but Kaprizov won't get to compete in any skills competitions tonight but instead watch others.
It doesn't seem like this bothers Kaprizov though as he responded with “Oh that’s nice,” when he was told he wasn't going to compete in any skills competitions. Kaprizov is still excited to be at the All-Star game and compete in the 3-on-3 game but doesn't have any flashy moves planned.
“No. Usually, you go in All-Star Game, in the game, 3-on-3, just you play," Kaprizov said when asked if he is planning on trying to perform a cool move in the game."If something happens and you think in the game, like ‘OK, I do it now, something.’ Before game, no, no ideas.”
Nonetheless, it seems like a missed opportunity by the league to not include Kaprizov and others in at least one of the six skills competitions.