Wild LW KIRILL KAPRIZOV returned to Minnesota last night, an "arrival that clears up weeks-long speculation about whether the Russian star would be able to get back for next season" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/3). Kaprizov “got caught in a geopolitical nightmare and a lot of it has to do” with the war in Ukraine. It "was hard for him to get out of the country," and what the Wild "did behind the scenes with his representative was they got him to Turkey, and they got some heavy-hitting diplomats involved.” Kaprizov’s “military exemption” status in Russia is “still something that they’re still going to have to work out” (“NHL Tonight,” NHL Network, 8/2).
NAMES: ALEX RODRIGUEZ celebrated his 47th birthday "playing golf in Idaho at the luxe Gozzer Ranch," according to sources. While the outing was described as “low-key,” other stars at the ranch reportedly included Jazz owner RYAN SMITH and stars JUSTIN BIEBER, MARK WAHLBERG and REESE WITHERSPOON (N.Y. POST, 8/2)....LEBRON JAMES's workout at the Lakers' facility in El Segundo, Calif., yesterday featured "some drills with his two sons," BRONNY and BRYCE (TMZ.com, 8/2).
