KIRILL KAPRIZOV – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Hockey Icon Lou Nanne Lauds Wild, U.S. Olympic Teams

Posted on March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 by David Shama

When Minnesota icon Lou Nanne talks hockey, you listen. This morning, he spoke with Sports Headliners about the Wild, the men’s and women’s Olympic teams, and the Golden Gophers.

Does the Wild have the best personnel in its 26 seasons history?

Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizove — Kirill Kaprizov

“Oh, there’s no question about that,” Nanne said. “They’ve got three of the best players ever that the Wild have had. (Kirill) Kaprizov, (Quinn) Hughes and (Matt) Boldy are definitely as good a players as they’ve ever had, or better than they’ve ever had. You’ve got two forwards (Kaprizov and Boldy)…who can really score. They’re tremendous and they’ll be the best two productive scorers that’s ever been on that team. And they’ve got the best defenseman (Hughes) they’ve ever had.”

The talent, of course, goes deeper with other standouts like defensemen Jonas Brodin, Brock Faber and Jake Spurgeon, forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno, and goalie Jesper Wallstedt. “They’ve got a very, very good team,” Nanne said.

Only three NHL teams have more points than Minnesota’s 80 and there’s a consensus the club is a Stanley Cup contender. Asked specifically what makes the Wild special, Nanne said:

“The talent. They’ve got talent at every position. They got speed. They got goal scoring. Their goaltending has been good enough this year. Sometimes it’s been tremendous and their defense overall (when players are healthy)…is probably the best defense in the league.”

The NHL trade deadline is Friday and Nanne thinks GM Bill Guerin could make a move for a top center. “All depends on what the price is. If they can get somebody worth the price they want to pay, yeah, they’ll pick up somebody.”

The Predators’ Steven Stamkos has drawn speculation, but Nanne questions whether the Wild can afford him. The Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck is on the center rumor list and would come with a lesser salary cap hit.

Both the U.S. women’s and men’s teams won Olympic gold medals last month in riveting 2-1 overtime wins over Canada. The women’s team was not only talented but had a nucleus of young players.

Nanne predicts future gold for the women. “…The women’s team, frankly, is the best team in the world by a longshot. …I don’t think (in) the next two Olympics that anybody is going to come close to that women’s team. I think they’re going to be dominant.”

The women’s gold medal game attracted a viewing audience of over 5 million in the United States making it the most watched women’s hockey game in history. The men’s game had about four times the viewership in an electric classic for the ages featuring great players, intensity and drama. “It was just a wonderful thing to watch,” Nanne said.

Nanne was born in Canada in 1941 but had no mixed feelings about the game. He became a U.S. citizen long ago and he’s been a major contributor to U.S. hockey development for decades. He captained the 1968 U.S. Olympic team before going on to a career with the NHL North Stars as a player, coach, and front office executive.

Nanne’s alma mater, the University of Minnesota where he was an All-American defenseman, is having an atypical season. The Gophers, 11-20-2 overall and 7-14-1 in the Big Ten, are a longshot to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. “They’re very young and inexperienced…when you’re young and inexperienced…you’re not going to have a lot of success,” Nanne said.

Worth Noting

Per ESPN.com, the Vikings retained their high ranking in the latest annual NFL Players Association survey, finishing second for two years in a row. In 2023 the Vikings were No. 1 among the NFL’s 32 franchises in the survey asking players to grade their organization in a wide variety of categories ranging from ownership to food and dining. The Dolphins were No. 1 in the 2025 survey.

Interestingly, recently dismissed GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah received an A grade. Also of note was that defensive coordinator Brian Flores got a B+, while special teams coordinator Matt Daniels and head coach Kevin O’Connell both received A grades. In 17 categories, only ownership had an A+.

Former Gopher Nick Rallis, defensive coordinator of the NFL Cardinals, received a C+ in an organization whose ownership was given an F.

With Koi Perich gone to Oregon on what Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said was for a $2million deal, it’s freed up money to pay other Gophers. Perich likely could have received similar money to stay at Minnesota. His sophomore season at safety didn’t produce as many interceptions as his freshman year, five versus one. Why? At least partially because he had to support the cornerbacks.

Condolences to family and friends of former Roosevelt head hockey coach Clayton “Bucky” Freeburg who recently passed away. A tremendous defensive coach, he led the Teddies to three state tournaments and counted Reed Larson and Mike Ramsey among his outstanding players.

Hockey historian Dave Wright emailed that his first section public address announcer assignment was the 1978 game between “Bucky’s” Teddies and a Blake team coached by Rod Anderson, brother of former Minnesota governor Wendy Anderson. The Teddies won 7-0 and advanced to the state tournament for the last time in school history.

Wright is doing public address announcing for the 35^th year at the boys’ state hockey tournament this week. Later in the month he will do eight games at the boys’ basketball tournament.

Comments Welcome

Most Pressure to Win in This Town? It’s not the WNBA Lynx

Posted on September 26, 2025September 26, 2025 by David Shama

Our town demands little in terms of championships from its pro teams and the Golden Gophers. Maybe that’s part of why the championship cupboard is so bare.

Minnesota fans aren’t so nasty they would threaten a serious boycott of a team, or boo Santa Claus like the City of Brotherly Love once did.

With a population here raised on “Minnesota nice” and minds filled with sensitivity training, I question whether some state natives would even unanimously hiss and jeer Vladimir Putin!

The Lynx are favorites to win the WNBA title this fall but think again if you believe there’s public pressure on the Lynxers to win it all. Nope for a couple of reasons.

The Lynx have already produced four WNBA championships, and they keep exceeding expectations. Then, too, the public interest in the club isn’t as widespread, nor as deeply intense as for several other outfits in town.

The team that should be feeling the most pressure to rise ASAP to an elite level is the Twins. The struggling franchise that passed on the opportunity to take a step forward two years ago after exciting patrons with its playoff run has both pissed off and launched fans into anger and apathy.

The Twins close the regular season on Sunday as a franchise viewed by the public and media as in disarray. David Schoenfield, writing for ESPN.com Wednesday, graded the 30 MLB teams on their 2025 seasons. No one in Twins Territory should be surprised the Pohlad owned franchise was given an F.

Schoenfield wrote: “This is the kind of season that can set an organization back five years, where it kind of feels like the whole organization has given up. Ownership/management punted at the trade deadline, dealing away 10 players. …As always, the Pohlads never disappoint in their willingness to pinch pennies.”

It’s interesting that while the Twins head toward a final record of about 22 games under .500 (after plummeting with a second consecutive late season collapse), the Brewers from neighboring Wisconsin received the best grade of the season from Schoenfield. Playing in a similar size market, the Brewers will finish with close to 100 wins and easily the best runs differential in MLB.

The Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Gophers football have no elite hardware to showcase this century, but they don’t face the scrutiny of the Twins who need a massive turnaround and pursuit of no less than an American league pennant.

Measure fan interest by game attendance, TV viewership, merchandise sales and sponsorship, and no one in this town likely comes close to the Vikings in decibel blowing devotion. On Sundays, it feels like only the newborn and comatose among us aren’t following the Purple heroes.

The franchise hasn’t been to the Super Bowl since Jimmy Carter was in the White House, but there’s not a win it all demand by the fanbase or “we’re done with you.” A competitive team, with entertaining players, is enough for the Skol-mad and beer fueled fans to rock all fall.

The Wolves and Wild claim no league titles in their histories which date back 35 and 25 years respectively. Yeah, Wolves fans would love to see coach Chris Finch hoisting the NBA championship trophy on a parade down Hennepin Avenue. But the fanbase of this mostly forlorn franchise is mesmerized by the last two springs when the club made the Western Conference Finals. Pressure to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy? Nah, not when the fanbase is honeymooning right now in unknown success.

The Wild fanbase is passionate and darn loyal, win or lose. Patrons would love a Stanley Cup but for starters many will welcome a deep playoff run next spring. Past post season success has been too minimal as has goal scoring. Disappointed fans have a way of returning for the next season and for now are preoccupied with seeing the contract of superstar Kirill Kaprizov extended. That’s where the franchise’s public pressure is for now. If Kaprizov departs and the club performs poorly for a season or two, then the pressure will be on like never before in the building we used to call the X.

Gopher football hasn’t shared a Big Ten championship since 1967. Minnesota couldn’t even win a division title earlier this century when it was grouped into the mediocre Big Ten West. Win-some, lose-some results in Big Ten games for a long time has driven away fans. Apathy hangs over this once proud program that during the first 70 years of the last century was a national power. A berth in the 12-team college football playoffs one day would bring a lot of fans out of the closet for the home state Division 1 football.

Not saying there isn’t pressure to win for this town’s teams, but nobody should be feeling it like the Twins! Santa Claus, though, probably wouldn’t get booed at Target Field. Tim Walz or Scott Jensen, maybe.

Worth Noting

Lindy’s Sports College Basketball Magazine is on newsstands and forecasts a 16^th place finish for Minnesota in the 18-team Big Ten standings. Concerns about coach Niko Medved’s first team at Minnesota include how well incoming players from mid-major programs will fare in the Big Ten.

The magazine’s top 10: Houston, Purdue, Florida, Michigan, Duke, Kentucky, St. John’s, Iowa State, Alabama and UConn.

The public is invited to a free men’s basketball Maroon and Gold Open Scrimmage at Williams Arena on Saturday, October 11. Start time will be 2 or 2:30 p.m., four hours before the start of the home football game with Purdue. That game time will be either 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. and decided later. Following the one-hour scrimmage, players will sign autographs near the Williams Arena court.

Fans can enter the arena through the Maturi Pavilion Daily Entrance, located at 1925 University Ave. Tailgate lots for the Gopher football game are scheduled to open at noon or 12:30 p.m. that day

News came yesterday that 6-8 forward Erick Reader, the sophomore forward from Bloomington and New Life Academy who played minimally in the past for the Gophers, is leaving the program to focus on academics. He is replaced by 6-3 walk-on guard RJ Spencer from Blaine and Totino-Grace.

Congratulations to hockey icon Lou Nanne who will be inducted Tuesday into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame at the JX Event Center in Stillwater. The former Gophers All-American, North Stars player, GM and president, has an impressive broadcast resume.

Nanne’s broadcast experience includes the Stanley Cup, Olympics, NCAA Frozen Four and the Boys’ State High School Hockey Tournament. He offered game commentary for 60 years of Minnesota high school state tournament games. He makes a KFAN radio appearance one day a week with Dan Barreiro.

Saint John’s senior defensive end Zach Frank and St. Olaf senior linebacker Noah Barret are semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy® which is college football’s premier scholar-athlete award.

Comments Welcome

Wild Contract Sit Down with Kaprizov Coming in September

Posted on August 24, 2025August 24, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Sunday notes column.

Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov has been out of the country this summer but in person conversation will start next month regarding a contract extension. Leipold and general manager Bill Guerin will meet with Kaprizov who signed a five-year contract in 2021 and is eligible for an extension.

The Wild leaders have already communicated proposed contract information to Kaprizov. “All signs indicate we’re not that far apart,” Leipold said. “He’s in Russia (and) we’re going to wait until he comes back here. Let’s hope we can get something done before the season has started.”

Leipold said the Wild will offer an eight-year extension but wouldn’t identify a dollar amount. Kaprizov, 28, is among the NHL’s elite goal scorers and his next contract is certain to reflect that. Online speculation has Kaprizov receiving $14 to $15 million per season on a new deal that might make him the highest paid player in the NHL for at least a short time.

Kaprizov can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but Leipold made it clear the Wild are determined to keep him in Minnesota. The owner said he and Guerin talk all the time about the face of the franchise.

Leipold also said the Wild will continue to request financial support from the state of Minnesota for major renovations to Grand Casino Arena. Disappointed with funding efforts during the last legislative session, the Wild will now pursue $100 million from the state, plus use $200 million each from the team and city of St. Paul/Ramsey County, to spend $500 million in improvements for the 25-year-old facility. Plans are on hold for updates to the St. Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

Marc-André Fleury, the Wild’s veteran goalie who retired after last season, is a Leipold favorite. Fleury, a native of Canada, is building a home in the metro area, where he and his wife will raise their family.

Leipold said Guerin “has made it known to him that we’d love to have him involved (with the organization)” when Fleury decides on his post-playing career direction.

“He is such a persona,” Leipold said of Fleury. “He is so well thought of (and) people just love this man. His family is a wonderful, beautiful family and they’re going to be a big part of the Twin Cities for many, many years. …We think that’s pretty cool.”

Pro football is a billion-dollar business with millions dedicated to scouting players. That doesn’t mean with all the technology and scouts mistakes aren’t made. The sleuths blew it, for example, in not drafting former Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer.

All 32 NFL teams passed on him last spring in the seven-round draft before the Vikings signed him as a free agent. He has wowed in training camp with his work ethic, inquisitive nature, ability to process information and decision making including under game pressure.

If he doesn’t make the team’s 53-man roster to be announced Tuesday, it will be stunning. And if he is cut by the Vikings, it’s certain another team will snatch him up as a free agent.

In last Friday night’s final exhibition game Brosmer out played his presumed rival for the third quarterback spot on the roster. Brosmer completed 15 of 23 passes, including a touchdown throw, while compiling 161 yards. Brett Rypien was seven of 14 for 62 yards, and threw an interception.

He could make the Minnesota roster as an under-the-radar rookie story that is already drawing some comparisons to Brock Purdy, the former Iowa State star who wasn’t selected until the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant” for his draft position, he has been starting for the 49ers since his rookie season.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Golden Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said on KFAN Radio recently about Brosmer’s splash this summer. “That kid is going to play in the NFL for 10 or 12 years. I really believe that.

“I’ve never been around a quarterback that processes the way he processes. …I am thinking when you look long term this isn’t a kid that you want to just let go and let some other team develop him and next thing you know you’re playing against him. …”

It will be interesting to see how the Vikings sort out their special teams decisions. Last season their 24.4 yards per return of kickoffs was second lowest in the NFL, while the 6.8 average on punt returns ranked last.

The Vikings got a setback when Rondale Moore, a free agent acquisition, was lost for the season earlier this summer with a knee injury. He could have contributed (perhaps dramatically) on both punt and kickoff returns.

Ryan Wright, the team’s punter the last two seasons, has been challenged in training camp by Australian newcomer Oscar Chapman. The punter puts the football in place for field goal kicker Will Reichard and Chapman didn’t help his standing when he mishandled the football on a Reichard kick Friday night.

Fleck also said on KFAN that Syracuse transfer Brady Denaburg, who will have one season of eligibility with the Gophers, will handle field goals. He won the assignment in a competition with true freshman Daniel Jackson who also ran track at Alexandria High School and has a personal best time of 10.65 in the 100 meters. Fleck teased that could prompt “fake” punts in the future, taking advantage of Jackson’s speed.

Former UCLA punter Brody Richter, who will have two seasons of eligibility with Minnesota, and Aussie native Tom Weston, with three seasons of eligibility ahead after transferring from Ouachita Baptist, are in a close competition for the starting punting job.

The Twins are on course to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Concerns about the organization include the collective work of president Derek Falvey and his staff in being productive in trades, free agent signings and development of talent inside the organization.

A disturbing trend, for example, is young players who initially excel with the Twins in the big leagues but falter after rivals figure out strengths and weaknesses. The poster boy for that is Royce Lewis who a couple of years ago was a candidate for the face of baseball but since has declined dramatically in production.

Not only is his batting average a lowly .233 but his power is minimal with only eight home runs. Are Twins coaches effective in helping players like Lewis, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach and Austin Martin make adjustments?

Something else to ponder: why is Falvey not only president on the baseball side, but also leading business operations? Is that too much of a workload for one person?

With a run scored Friday night against the White Sox, Byron Buxton became the third player in Twins history to reach 500+ runs, 150+ home runs, 100+ stolen bases and 400+ RBI in a career with Minnesota. The others are Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter.

Minneapolis-based attorney Marshall Tanick wrote a timely and comprehensive article for the Minnesota Lawyer publication that details the late Hulk Hogan’s tie to Minnesota and litigation over the years involving professional wrestling. Tanick recounts litigation involving Hogan, Jesse Ventura and others as he takes on the “legal lore of wrestling in this state.”

The former sports editor of the Minnesota Daily is not only an attorney but a prolific journalist whose articles are seen frequently in various publications.

Happy birthday to football lifer and former Golden Gophers coach Jerry Kill who turns 64 today.

Sending best wishes to former Golden Gophers basketball guard Melvin Newbern as he faces health challenges.

Tommies men’s basketball will play old MIAC rival Saint John’s on December 11 at the new UST Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. Their last game was in 2021.

Phil Esten, UST vice president and director of athletics, told Sports Headliners earlier this month that public season tickets for men’s basketball have increased from about 200 to the 400 range as the Tommies get ready for their first season in the arena. Students are admitted free to the arena that will seat over 5,000 for basketball.

The Lindenwood (St. Charles, Missouri) football program that started Division I competition in 2022 plays at St. Thomas Thursday night in the opener for both teams. The Lions will play at Minnesota in 2027.

The MIAC league office reported the MIAC Sports Network has for two consecutive years streamed more than 1,000 conference events, generating more than one million uploads across all platforms. The network app can be found and installed free by searching MIAC Sports Network on various devices, or at https://miacsportsnetwork.com/

Comments Welcome