In the Minnesota Wild's opening night victory, Kirill Kaprizov demonstrated precisely why he's worth every penny of his $17 million annual contract.
There has been no shortage of debate surrounding the Minnesota Wild's decision to commit such a lofty sum to Kaprizov, especially in light of recent deals like Connor McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension with the Edmonton Oilers, or Kyle Connor’s $12 million AAV re-signing with the Winnipeg Jets. Many have argued that the Wild may have overpaid, questioning whether Kaprizov could truly justify the price tag.
Yet, after the Wild’s commanding 2025-26 season opener, which saw them shut out the St. Louis Blues, it’s time to acknowledge the undeniable truth: Kaprizov is more than deserving of his hefty contract. No matter the perspective, the man has earned his dues.
How many times have we witnessed athletes sign lucrative contracts, only to subsequently underperform or, worse yet, seemingly disengage from the very duties that earned them such compensation? In the modern landscape of professional sports, such occurrences appear more frequent than ever. Take, for instance, Juan Soto of the New York Mets, who, after securing a staggering 15-year, $765 million contract—boasting an average annual value of $51 million—has seen a notable regression across nearly every statistical category.
Similarly, Anthony Rendon’s seven-year, $245 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels in 2020, which translates to an approximate $38.57 million per year, has largely failed to meet the expectations set by both the team and the fans. In fact, since signing the contract, Rendon has not only fallen short of the anticipated performance but, alarmingly, his commitment to the game appears to have waned as well.
In Major League Baseball, where a regular season spans 162 games, Rendon’s first seven seasons were marked by five campaigns in which he played at least 100 games. However, for the duration of his new deal, he has failed to reach the 100-game threshold in any season to date. This year, the Angels paid him his full salary despite him not playing a single game following hip surgery, and the previous season, he earned the same pay for a meager 14 runs in 57 games. At this point, one could reasonably argue that what we’re witnessing is, in essence, a financial heist.
Kaprizov Is Proving His Worth
In comes Kaprizov, the consummate professional. The price tag may have risen significantly, but his goal remained the same, to be one of the best hockey players in the world and to lead his team to victory. And that he did. Kaprizov, fresh off his new contract, dished out three assists.
Kaprizov has now registered at least one point in each of his six career season openers, accumulating a total of 10 points over that span. This, in many ways, underscores the distinction between a player driven by the pursuit of victory rather than mere financial reward. While money remains an undeniable factor in any professional athlete's career, if Kaprizov were solely motivated by his paycheck, we might have expected him to coast on the ice. Instead, he has done the exact opposite, demonstrating a relentless commitment to his craft and his team.
While it may indeed be true that Kaprizov secured a more substantial contract from the Wild than the current market trends might have suggested, he is far from embodying the archetype of a pampered athlete who has simply capitalized on a lucrative payday. Instead, he is proving himself as a player motivated by something far greater—an unwavering desire to lead his team to glory, claim a Stanley Cup championship, and carve out a lasting legacy in the sport.