Report: Wild star Kirill Kaprizov rejects most lucrative contract in NHL history

[Enoch Root]

And yet they have had no playoff success with him onboard.

Great player. Full stop. However, he is 28 - I would not give him $16M for 8 years. I would be happy to have him for the next 3 years, and would hope the cap went up enough to make the next 2 or 3 stomach-able as well, but at some point, that contract is going to be ugly. I sure wouldn't trade half my farm system to acquire it.

[Vinny01]

I am interested to see what the Wild get in return? Will it be a Rantanen type deal where they get another star back with some futures? Will they blow their entire team up? Between Rossi, Buium and Faber they have some solid young pieces so this could be a quickie h turnaround for the Wild if they knock this deal out of the park

[Badgers Nose]

He’ll end up traded and extending for less with a team of his choosing.

Regarding the money: No way any team opens the vault with a potential McDavid sweepstakes on the horizon. No way. The only teams likely to want to pay what the Wild offered are teams at the Wild’s level, or worse. Teams McD would not consider.

Regarding his impact: I can't think of a single legit contender that really needs a player like KK - they all have the regular season firepower players. What those teams are looking for is an answer to Tkachuk/Bennett/Marchand in the playoffs, KK doesn’t help with that at all.

[Ped]

I mean, Kaprizov has a high goals per game in the playoffs then all three of those players, albeit in a smaller sample size.


Doesn't look like Minny's playoff failures can't be pinned on Kaprizov.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Ped

I mean, Kaprizov has a high goals per game in the playoffs then all three of those players, albeit in a smaller sample size.


Doesn't look like Minny's playoff failures can't be pinned on Kaprizov.

Yeah, but I don’t see that KK type of player helping you get past those specific three. He probably just gets a season ending injury going up against them IMO in the playoffs if his team gets that far.

IMO the contenders are more focused on how do we beat FLA than the regular season output KK will provide.

I don’t think he gets both the money and the team of his choice (unless his first choice is a team just starting its contention windows maybe).

[accord1999]

A major issue that really hurt the Wild is the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts. They took up over $14M of the Wild's cap. The fact that the Wild actually made the playoffs at all is a testament to the value provided by Kaprizov. But it also meant that the Wild wasted his cost-effective years since they couldn't afford any stars.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

If CC could somehow get Kaprizov...

Eichel was the last player of this caliber to get dealt.

To VGK: Jack Eichel, 3rd Round Pick
To BUF: Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, 1st Round Pick (Top-10 Protected), 2nd Round Pick

....

To CGY: Kirill Kaprizov
To MIN: Connor Zary, Samuel Honzek, 2026 1st Round Pick (VGK), 2026 2nd Round Pick (CGY), and maybe a depth pick or an additional 2nd round pick?

He definitely doesn't fit the age range we seem to be openly targeting though (turned 28 this past April)

I think Rantanen is the last example.

DAL trade: 2 x 1sts + 2 x 3rds + Stankoven
CAR trade: Necas + Drury + 2nd + 4th

As much as I like Kaprizov, I don't think CGY is in a position to pay that. Moreover, if Kaprizov is set on leaving Minnesota, I doubt he would be excited about extending in CGY.

Currently, 30 out of 32 have more than $20M of cap space next summer. 23 have more than $27.5M, and 18 with more than $32M. That will result in demand greatly exceeding the supply. IMO during the free agency frenzy the top free agents will be given a blank check, and have their choice of a team.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I think Rantanen is the last example.

DAL trade: 2 x 1sts + 2 x 3rds + Stankoven
CAR trade: Necas + Drury + 2nd + 4th

As much as I like Kaprizov, I don't think CGY is in a position to pay that. Moreover, if Kaprizov is set on leaving Minnesota, I doubt he would be excited about extending in CGY.

Currently, 30 out of 32 have more than $20M of cap space next summer. 23 have more than $27.5M, and 18 with more than $32M. That will result in demand greatly exceeding the supply. IMO during the free agency frenzy the top free agents will be given a blank check, and have their choice of a team.

Yeah you're bang on - I forgot about Rantanen.

I think/hope that the "I doubt he would be excited about extending in CGY. " mindset dissipates as the team rides some waves of positivity going forward (c'mon Makar).

Kaprizov is an exciting player, and probably one of my favourite non-Flames around the league.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Kaprizov does not make sense to pursue at all unless we are signing him for free. Paying assets for him? No, not at all. Stay the course.

[Erick Estrada]

It's very unlikely Kaprizov would have any interest in signing in Calgary so I don't think Flames fans should be worried about the team making a big offer for him.

[Mr.Coffee]

If it’s true he rejected the $128mm- I think that’s INSANE and a brutal decision.

Risk exists. It’s not a made up concept. Wild- pun intended- he would reject that. You have to REALLY hate Minnesota to say no to a guaranteed $128mm.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And yet they have had no playoff success with him onboard.

Great player. Full stop. However, he is 28 - I would not give him $16M for 8 years. I would be happy to have him for the next 3 years, and would hope the cap went up enough to make the next 2 or 3 stomach-able as well, but at some point, that contract is going to be ugly. I sure wouldn't trade half my farm system to acquire it.

Aside from the miracle run, you could say the same about Iggy. Or, say, Matthews who has two PO series wins total. Or Hughes. You could also say the same about a few guys who suddenly got that success when they moved, like Eichel.

I'm not saying he (or any player) is worth the money - the typical NHL team salary structure is not conducive to success IMO. But he can argue based on the market he's a top 5 forward, and should get that type of cap percentage.

And for him it's probably win-win. They either pay him a bunch of money, or move him to a better team that will come close to that amount anyway.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's very unlikely Kaprizov would have any interest in signing in Calgary so I don't think Flames fans should be worried about the team making a big offer for him.

Except some insider will link them and there will be a bunch of panic over an imaginary scenario.

[gvitaly]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1966576392771903742

[traptor]

It will never happen but I would trade for Kaprizof and sign him 16x8.


If he's not a top 5 player in the league then he's like #6 or #7.
With would locked up that would really solidify a competitive window for us.


Zary + x2 1sts protected (Rantenan). We would still have a strong deep prospect pool. Recoup some assets with Rasmums.

[Vinny01]

Lafreniere for Kaprizov who says no?

Wild get a young former 1st overall pick signed long term

Rangers get a Russian superstar they can extend.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Lafreniere for Kaprizov who says no?

Wild get a young former 1st overall pick signed long term

Rangers get a Russian superstar they can extend.

The Rangers would have to add. Unless Kaprizov’s trade list only has a couple teams on it and the Wild have no leverage.

Lafrenier + Perrault + cap dump

The Rangers would also be stuck with their two best players being LW, and probably not being able to re-sign Panarin next season anyway. Not sure they’re a good fit.

The Sabres have loads of cap space if Kaprizov wants to live on that region and is just chasing the bag.

The Flyers might be a dark horse. They have the cap space. Not sure about the assets.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And yet they have had no playoff success with him onboard.

Great player. Full stop. However, he is 28 - I would not give him $16M for 8 years. I would be happy to have him for the next 3 years, and would hope the cap went up enough to make the next 2 or 3 stomach-able as well, but at some point, that contract is going to be ugly. I sure wouldn't trade half my farm system to acquire it.

Exactly and we've been down that path to an extent before with players like Huberdeau to know that it isn't likely to work out that well.

It also makes no sense from the standpoint of being another winger that is not aged in our competitive window, who would take some of our best young players to land.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Lafreniere for Kaprizov who says no?

Wild get a young former 1st overall pick signed long term

Rangers get a Russian superstar they can extend.

I tthink both wouldn't do it right now atleast.


I dont feel like Laf is enough value if you're using the Rantenan deal as a comp.


I dont think the rangers would move for Kaprizof until they know ehats going on with McDavid.