Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov draws attention after Breckie Hill Instagram follow amid NHL playoff elimination

The Minnesota Wild’s season came to an early end as they were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL playoffs. Kirill Kaprizov was making headlines off the ice over the weekend for unexpected social media activity with influencer Breckie Hill, with the team's focus shifting to roster construction and NHL trade speculation.

Screenshots showing Kaprizov following Breckie Hill on Instagram began circulating among fans soon after Minnesota’s postseason exit. The exchange quickly made its way around NHL news and fan chatter on social media, with many commenting on the timing, coming on the heels of the disappointing playoff loss.

Breckie Hill and Kirill Kaprizov of Minnesota Wild's social media interaction fuels NHL speculation

The speculation started when Instagram users noticed Kirill Kaprizov had recently followed Breckie Hill on the platform following the Minnesota Wild’s exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That timing alone raised eyebrows on NHL news roundups and fan pages online.

Breckie Hill is a social media influencer from Minnesota who has a huge following on TikTok and Instagram and is already a household name in the social media and entertainment industry. Kaprizov is still the face of the Minnesota Wild franchise, so even a modest online interaction turned into a trending conversation among hockey fans in a matter of hours.

Some wondered how soon the focus shifted from the Minnesota Wild’s playoff disappointment to the headlines on social media in the offseason, while some reacted with humor online.

Kaprizov is still one of the NHL’s most important franchise players and still has large expectations coming into every season. The Minnesota Wild didn't make the playoffs, losing out to the Colorado Avalanche, but the Russian winger was a vital part of the team all year long.

The Instagram follow itself seems harmless enough, but the viral response is a reminder of how quickly online communities can crank up the volume on even the smallest moments involving big NHL personalities.

The Minnesota Wild will soon be turning their attention to offseason roster decisions, possible NHL trade rumors and getting ready for next season. But Kirill Kaprizov’s unexpected social media buzz has briefly become one of the league’s lighter offseason talking points in the wake of Minnesota’s playoff ouster.

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