On Tuesday night, Kirill Kaprizov secured his place in Minnesota Wild history by becoming the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer during a 5-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This milestone came shortly after the NHL resumed following the Olympic break and was marked by Kaprizov’s empty-net goal late in the third period, which pushed him past the previous record.
Surpassing a Longstanding Record Held by Marian Gaborik
Since joining the Wild in the 2020-21 season, Kaprizov has amassed 220 goals, surpassing Marian Gaborik’s franchise record of 219 goals accumulated between 2000-01 and 2008-09. After the game, Kaprizov modestly addressed the achievement, highlighting the balance between personal satisfaction and maintaining focus on future goals.
It’s good, you know, but you always want it more and just don’t think about this too much,
Kaprizov said.
It feels good because everyone shake and congrats and stuff like that, but now it’s done and just need to keep going.
– Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild forward
Kaprizov’s Journey from KHL Star to NHL Standout
Selected 135th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Kaprizov spent several years in the KHL before joining the NHL. During his tenure in Russia, he earned five all-star selections, was named MVP with the Golden Stick award, and led CSKA Moscow to a Gagarin Cup championship in 2019. His transition to the NHL has been marked by consistent excellence and record-breaking performances.
Record Holder Across Multiple Franchise Milestones
Beyond his all-time goal scoring record, Kaprizov holds several Minnesota Wild franchise records, including most goals and points by a rookie—a performance that secured him the 2021 Calder Memorial Trophy. He also set new highs for goals and points in a single season, with 47 goals scored during the 2021-22 campaign. This season, Kaprizov’s 35 goals rank him tied for second among NHL goal scorers, while his 75 points place him sixth overall in the league.
Team Performance and Outlook as Play Continues
The Wild currently hold a strong 36-16-10 record, positioned third in the Central Division. Their upcoming challenge will be a road game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, as they continue to push for playoff success. Kaprizov’s ongoing scoring pace is an important factor in the team’s hopeful campaign moving forward.
KIRILL 🤑
Kirill Kaprizov now has the most goals in @mnwild franchise history! pic.twitter.com/JofDIoFsE5
— NHL (@NHL) March 4, 2026
