As the Minnesota Wild approach the 2025-2026 season, the biggest question mark hovering over the team is the future of their star winger, Kirill Kaprizov. Contract negotiations between Kaprizov and the Wild have reportedly become tense, with the two sides seemingly at odds despite the Wild's desire to keep their franchise player.
Kaprizov's current five-year, $45 million contract, with a $9 million cap hit, is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Wild have reportedly offered Kaprizov an eight-year, $128 million extension, which would make him the highest-paid player in the NHL, surpassing Leon Draisaitl's $14 million cap hit, but Kaprizov's camp rejected the offer.
According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the Wild are frustrated with Kaprizov's agent, Paul Theofanous, and negotiations are "not cordial". Despite the tension, the Wild are reportedly not entertaining trade calls from other teams, as they still hope to sign Kaprizov. Wild owner Craig Leipold has expressed confidence in getting a deal done, stating that no team would offer Kaprizov more money than the Wild.
However, the longer the contract situation remains unresolved, the more precarious the situation becomes for the Wild. If Kaprizov enters free agency, he will have the option to sign elsewhere, a nightmare scenario for the team. If the impasse persists, the Wild will face the difficult decision of either keeping Kaprizov for the remainder of his contract or trading him to recoup assets.
Several teams are expected to be interested in Kaprizov if he becomes available, including the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Some analysts believe the Rangers could aggressively pursue Kaprizov, given his connections with Artemi Panarin, Igor Shesterkin, and Vladislav Gavrikov. Other potential landing spots include the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, and San Jose Sharks.
Elliotte Friedman noted that Kaprizov has spoken highly of the Wild organization, the city, and his teammates. However, he also acknowledged that Kaprizov could still prefer to play elsewhere.
The Wild's success in the 2025-26 season is heavily contingent on Kaprizov's health and contract situation. A strong start to the season could positively influence contract negotiations, while improved team depth and defense will be crucial to breaking their first-round playoff curse. The team's performance last season was marked by inconsistency, with injuries and an early playoff exit. Key players like Filip Gustavsson and Matt Boldy will need to continue their strong play, and the team hopes that offseason additions like Vladimir Tarasenko can provide a boost. The development of young players like Marco Rossi and Zeev Buium will also be important for the team's future.
