HIGHLIGHTS
- Kirill Kaprizov turned down an 8-year, $128 million extension from the Wild
- The deal would have made him the NHL’s highest-paid player at $16 million AAV
- Read below for what this means for Kaprizov and the Wild’s future
The Minnesota Wild just got hit with some brutal Kirill Kaprizov news.
According to Frank Seravalli, the Wild’s superstar forward rejected an eight-year, $128 million extension offer on Tuesday. The deal would’ve made Kaprizov the highest-paid player in NHL history with a $16 million average annual value.
That’s $2 million more per year than Leon Draisaitl’s current league-leading $14 million AAV with Edmonton. It’s also more total money than any NHL contract ever signed.
And Kaprizov said no thanks.
The 28-year-old Russian is heading into the final year of his current five-year, $45 million deal. He’s been eligible to sign an extension since July 1, and the Wild have been confident they’d get something done.
“I just feel that we’re not that far off,” owner Craig Leipold told The Athletic last week. “I kind of think we’re there.”
Turns out they weren’t there at all.
What Kaprizov Wants
Kaprizov reportedly wants two things: winning and [possibly] a shorter-term contract.
While the Wild weren’t given any indication during Tuesday’s meeting that Kaprizov wants a shorter deal, that could still be in play, according to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic.
A shorter-term contract could actually work for both sides. Kaprizov could bet on himself and the rising salary cap, and it would put pressure on the Wild to build a winner right now.
The Wild, meanwhile, would get some insurance against his injury history—he missed 41 games last season—and the fact that he’ll be 29 when a new deal starts.
Kaprizov made it clear: winning is what matters. The Wild haven’t won a single playoff series in his five years in Minnesota, and you can clearly tell it’s weighing on him.
Despite missing half of last season with a lower-body injury, Kaprizov still managed 56 points in 41 games. His best year was 2021-22, when he racked up 108 points. But all that individual success hasn’t translated to team success.
Wild’s Nightmare Scenario
If Minnesota can’t lock up Kaprizov, they’re staring at two ugly options: let him walk for nothing in free agency next summer, or try to trade him before the deadline.
The problem? Kaprizov has a full no-move clause. He decides where he goes.
GM Bill Guerin just escaped the salary cap hell from the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts. Now he’s facing an even bigger problem with his franchise player potentially walking out the door.
The Wild could come back with an even bigger offer, but how much higher can they realistically go? The maximum salary allowed is $19.1 million, and if Kaprizov’s already turning down $16 million, what’s it gonna take?
Connor McDavid is also a free agent next summer, and you know Kaprizov’s camp is watching that closely. If McDavid gets $18 million or more, maybe that’s the number Kaprizov wants too.
As it stands, the Wild are stuck in limbo with their best player since… well, maybe ever. Training camp is right around the corner, and this cloud is going to hang over the team until they figure it out.
