Kaprizov’s Workouts With Evgeni Malkin Are A Crossover Episode In the NHL World – Minnesota Wild

Any hockey fan on social media has seen the videos and pictures of Evgeni Malkin and Kirill Kaprizov working out together back in their homeland of Russia. The idea of it felt a bit like a crossover episode in the NHL world. The younger Minnesota superstar and the older Sidney Crosby sidekick seemed to materialize together in the same gym this offseason, and at first glance, it felt a little unlikely.

But after a bit of a think and some research, this actually makes so much sense, and Wild fans should be ecstatic that our Russian forward has a chance to spend time alongside Malkin.

Malkin and Kaprizov have played on the ice together during the 2019 IIHF Men’s World Championships. They’ve also skated together for events like the NHL vs. KHL charity game, but their paths have not crossed as much as most fans would hope. That’s why this summer has been a breath of fresh air. Both high-level players have been regularly featured on their Russian trainer’s Instagram page, to the point that in a dinner picture, it was pointed out that the two weren’t sitting together. 

Everyone always wants to spin these sorts of cross-team friendships into trading for Malkin when? or Kaprizov a Penguin soon? But let’s take the time to appreciate this unlikely yet fun friendship for what it is: The intersectional age-gap relationship between two Russian players who share a fun personality and a high-skilled hockey style. They may have a 7-inch height difference and play different positions, but the similarities remain.

Despite being a decade older than Kaprizov, he and Malkin struggled with the KHL-to-NHL pipeline. Not only did they both face logistical nightmares in simply getting to America, but they also had to deal with a language barrier in their own way.

Kaprizov, famously, refused any sort of classes or tutoring in his new language. While he received some coaching from Minnesota native and teammate Ryan Stoa before coming to Minnesota, Kaprizov arrived in America with a limited grasp of English and a wealth of big dreams that he has been achieving.

In a similar vein, Malkin was famous for only muttering the word “hamburger” in English for much longer than he probably needed to. He also watched the Transformers movie constantly because not only did it help him with the language, but he also had a crush on Megan Fox.

One thing that helped both of these Russians was forming a fast friendship with a non-Russian fellow player. Settling into a new country is always better when the person finds a co-worker to help them on and off the ice. Malkin found that in Crosby, while Kaprizov found something similar in Mats Zuccarello.

While Malkin and Crosby grew up together in the league, Kaprizov has been instrumental in spurring Zuccarello’s late-career surge and also supporting him in some of the best years.

Malkin and Kaprizov have similar quirky personalities. They are both able to be serious, with Malkin known for his occasional contempt for the media, but in general, they’re both happy-go-lucky. At one point, Malkin owned a “prison-themed restaurant” in Magnitogorsk. He’s also been the player to most successfully razz Sid the Kid during their years together.

While Kaprizov doesn’t razz his teammates like Malkin, he’s been game to participate in social media videos, like the time he tried tator tot hotdish with former Wild player Dmitry Kulikov, who successfully goaded him into dropping an incredibly Russian-accented “you betcha” that will continue to delight Minnesotans for decades to come.

Malkin and Kaprizov are different players. But in the end, Minnesotans can only hope that Kaprizov will have as long and storied a career as Malkin continues to have and that he maintains the same kind of positive and fun attitude. 

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