Kirill Kaprizov’s future in Minnesota looks increasingly uncertain—and fans have every right to be furious with the Wild’s leadership.
Owner Craig Leipold set the tone during his annual media day remarks, refusing to comment on the Kaprizov contract situation. The silence spoke volumes, leaving supporters to wonder whether the organization has the conviction—or even the desire—to keep its franchise player.
"I said I wasn’t going to talk about Kirill. I really am serious," Leipold said with Wild general manager Bill Guerin next to him. "There’s nothing to gain. Everything to lose."
The question that should have been asked at the media scrum was simple: “Do you want to retain Kirill Kaprizov?” It’s not harsh, just direct. Yet both Bill Guerin and Craig Leipold have sidestepped it. From the outside, it almost looks as if the Wild either don’t want to keep Kaprizov, or they’re too afraid to say something that might strain what’s left of the relationship. But if you truly want someone in your future, the best thing you can do is communicate—make it clear how much they mean to you and where you see things going over the next decade or more So far, all that’s been offered is a denial that the $128 million contract rejection ever happened. Beyond that? Silence.
Behind Closed Doors
What happens behind closed doors often stays there, and in this case, that may be for the best. Across sports, owners and general managers have repeatedly stressed that they prefer not to negotiate through the media. From that vantage point, it makes sense. The media is a powerful amplifier: once something is published—true or not—it spreads instantly and often irreversibly.
Still, while the Wild’s reluctance to air negotiations publicly is understandable, the silence carries its own consequences. At minimum, leadership could go on record affirming Kaprizov’s value to the franchise and pledging to do whatever it takes to keep him in Minnesota. Their unwillingness to make even that modest gesture suggests hesitation about whether he is worth the complications. And if that is the case, the possibility emerges that Kaprizov’s fate could mirror Mikko Rantanen’s—a franchise cornerstone dealt away in a blockbuster move no one expected. It’s a scenario worth considering now, before it shocks the league later.
Trade Possibilities?
If the Wild were to do the unthinkable and move Kirill Kaprizov, several destinations stand out. The Detroit Red Wings sit atop the list, armed with roughly $12 million in cap space—an edge few contenders can match. The Carolina Hurricanes also make sense, though prying Kaprizov loose would demand a steep return of prospects and picks. Still, with his health intact, he is among the league’s most dynamic players—a gamble with enormous upside. Beyond those two, the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers emerge as intriguing, if imperfect, fits. San Jose’s rebuilding effort could shift dramatically with the arrival of a true superstar, while the Rangers, limited by less than $1 million in available space, would need to explore painful trade scenarios to make the math work.