Kaprizov wore a non-contact jersey and will not play for the Wild at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNW, SNP, ATTSN-PT, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, SN NOW), but Minnesota could have him or forward Gustav Nyquist back for its home game against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
Nyquist (shoulder) has practiced in a non-contact jersey. He hasn't played since Jan. 25
"Is there a chance? I guess, yeah," coach Dean Evason said. "One (of them) or, probably one.
"[Kaprizov will] probably come wanting to play tomorrow. He won't. We'll communicate like we always do. It's always the same. It's doctors and (head athletic trainer) John Worley and then ultimately, it's the player that has to make a decision on how they feel. Everybody's different, so we'll see how he feels tonight, tomorrow, and get another skate in tomorrow morning.
"Obviously, he's an elite athlete, and it doesn't look like it's going to take him long. He's excited, obviously, to be out with the guys. He's had a few skates on his own. He looked really good."
Kaprizov, who was injured when he was taken down to the ice by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, leads the Wild with 39 goals and 74 points in 65 games. Minnesota clinched a Stanley Cup Playoff berth Monday and is tied with the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars for first in the Central Division. Colorado has one game in hand.
"It's really exciting to get our best player back," Wild forward Matt Boldy said. "It's just exciting to see him moving pretty well out there. He's been working hard. I think everyone knows that. It's never a question with that guy, so it's exciting to see him out there."
Nyquist was acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 28 for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He had 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 48 games before the injury.
"He was pretty much, I don't know if completely cleared, but there was some contact today and we'll see him tomorrow," Evason said. "And then same thing. We'll evaluate and communicate with him and hopefully get him in the lineup sooner rather than later."
