Minnesota Wild fans were left stunned today after reports confirmed that NHL superstar Kirill Kaprizov has officially ended his relationship with longtime girlfriend Stesha Malikova. The breakup, which had been rumored for several weeks, was confirmed through sources close to the couple earlier this morning โ and Kaprizov himself briefly addressed the situation during a post-practice interview.
The 28-year-old forward, known for his electric on-ice performances and usually private personal life, broke his silence saying,
โSometimes life takes you in different directions. I have a lot of respect for Stesha and wish her all the best. Right now, I just want to focus on hockey and helping my team win.โ
Fans quickly took to social media to express their surprise and sympathy. Many noted that Kaprizov and Malikova, a popular Russian model and social media influencer, had appeared inseparable during the offseason, often sharing glimpses of their time together on Instagram.
โI canโt believe it โ they seemed so happy together,โ wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).
โAs long as he keeps scoring goals, Iโll support him no matter what,โ another joked.
Sources close to the player suggest that the coupleโs demanding schedules and long-distance commitments contributed to the split. Malikova, who has been working on several international modeling projects, has reportedly returned to Moscow, while Kaprizov remains focused on leading the Wild through the first half of the 2025โ26 NHL season.
While the breakup marks the end of one of the NHLโs most talked-about relationships, teammates say Kaprizov has been in good spirits and fully locked in at practice.
โHeโs a professional,โ said one teammate. โWhateverโs happening off the ice, he leaves it there. Heโs all about hockey.โ
As fans continue to react online, Kaprizovโs focus now turns to Saturday nightโs home game at the Xcel Energy Center โ where many will be watching to see if the Wildโs star can turn personal heartbreak into on-ice motivation.
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