The ESPN hockey crew released their top-100 player rankings [https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38672360/nhl-rank-2023-2024-top-100-players-rankings-predictions] for the 2023-24 season this week, and the Minnesota Wild have two players represented on the list: Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. ESPN ranked Kaprizov 17th, down from seventh from last year. Kaprizov finished fifth in NHL scoring during the 2021-22 season with a career-high 47 goals and 108 points after recording 51 points in 55 games during his rookie campaign in 2020-21. “Kaprizov is a goal-scoring menace who is more than capable of creating challenges when he distributes,” ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark wrote. “He is among the game's best wingers — and a pivotal figure in the Wild's bid to reach the playoffs once again.” Kaprizov, who the Wild recently named an alternate captain, missed 15 games last season due to injury, which is likely why he fell back 10 spots from last year's list. The 26-year-old left winger scored 40 goals for a second straight year and finished with 75 points in 67 games last season. Kaprizov has five points in three games this season. ESPN ranked Boldy 77th for his first appearance on the list. Boldy started his career on a high note with 39 points in 47 games during his impressive rookie campaign, which landed him seventh in Calder Trophy voting. The 22-year-old avoided a sophomore slump with 31 goals and 63 points in 81 games last season, and he has become one of the best young two-way wingers in the league. The Wild rewarded Boldy by signing him to a seven-year contract extension in January worth $7 million annually. “Boldy rightfully turned heads in his first full NHL season with a 31-goal showing that highlighted a highly effective emerging talent with terrific hands and vision,” ESPN’s Kristen Shilton wrote. Boldy has a goal and assist in two games this season but is currently out of the lineup with an upper-body injury and week-to-week status. Why can the Wild finish in the top-3 in a more competitive Central? REQUIRED READING
