The Minnesota Wild were able to watch their young prospects perform well during their showcase tournament against the Chicago Blackhawks this weekend, but the reality of where their roster is currently was a significant and shadow-casting elephant in the rink.
Kirill Kaprizov is still without a contract and as the team starts to prepare for training camp that begins next week and the preseason next weekend, they are still without their top star after a summer-long mind-numbing contract negotiation that has gotten them nowhere. Even after the months of updates from GM Bill Guerin or other inside sources, there is no signed piece of paper.