The Minnesota Wild seemingly have a cloud hanging over the club as superstar Kirill Kaprizov still does not have a contract extension in place. That situation casts doubt over the club’s future.
While re-signing Marco Rossi last month was a huge step in the right direction, it does not quell the uncertainty surrounding what lies ahead for the organization. As such, GM Bill Guerin’s biggest priority has to be figuring out what to do about Kaprizov.
Well, it seems Guerin is prepared to put his money where his mouth is. According to a report by the Fourth Period from September 2, the Wild are ready to pony up.
The report states:
“The Minnesota Wild are prepared to pitch Kaprizov a significant contract, and those conversations are expected as early as this week. Word out there suggests an eight-year deal worth in between $120 million and $130 million, which would put his AAV north of $15 million and potentially around or over $16 million.”
The report makes sense as the chatter throughout the summer has been that Kaprizov’s next deal is set to eclipse Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million AAV signed last season. Kaprizov, as it stands, will become a free agent in 2026. If that’s the case, he could potentially command a higher AAV.
But that’s something the Wild want to avoid. If the report is true, and David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period is about as reliable as they come, Kaprizov would be hard-pressed to find a better deal elsewhere.
The Wild are a young, up-and-coming team. If the Russian sniper is looking for an opportunity to win, Minnesota is about as good a place as he can find.
Rising cap to help Wild keep Kaprizov
The flat-cap world is now in the rearview mirror. The cap will be rising over the next couple of seasons, with more to come part the 2027-28 season. Thus, signing Kaprizov to a record-setting deal should not keep Wild fans up at night.
In two or three seasons, a $16 million cap hit could become the norm for the NHL’s biggest stars. That’s why Kaprizov’s deal now could be seen as a relative bargain down the road.
The only question that may remain is term. Would Kaprizov be willing to sign a max-term deal? The Wild would be remiss not to push for an eight-year contract at this point, considering that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will limit that possibility.
Now, it’s worth pointing out that the new CBA won’t come into effect until September 2026. And, despite some of the provisions being implemented a year in advance, the max-term eight-year contracts will still be possible this season.
So, it makes sense that the Wild would push for the max-term contract. If Kaprizov believes in getting a second big payday, he may opt for a short-term deal, something akin to a three or four-year deal.
Even if Kaprizov signs a short-term deal, fans shouldn’t be overly concerned. The rising cap is dictating many of players’ decisions. So, signing a short-term deal shouldn’t be seen as a reflection of wanting to leave. It’s just a reflection of the economic nature driving pro sports.