MONTREAL – Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin has denied reports that Kirill Kaprizov flew back to the United States following news of Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov’s detainment in Russia last week.
Russian newspaper Sport-Express reported on Wednesday morning that Kaprizov immediately returned to the United States after his name became linked to fraudulent military identification.
The report said that Kaprizov purchased a fake ID from a former military officer in Ufa, who was arrested. Kaprizov spent a season with Ufa in the KHL back in 2016-17 before joining CSKA for a three-year run.
“He’s in Russia, and he’s doing fine,” Guerin said in Montreal following the annual GM’s meeting ahead of the NHL draft. “He’s with his friends and with his family.”
Fedotov was reportedly picked up by Russian law enforcement on July 1 just a week before Fedotov was set to move to the United States. A Flyers prospect, Fedotov previously played for CSKA Moscow, the hockey team of the Russian army, and agent J.P. Barry said Fedotov is at a remote military base in Northern Russia.
“With Kirill, I’ve talked to his agent. We’re just trying to find out as much information as we can. I don’t even know how credible the (report) was,” Guerin said.
