NHL News: The Minnesota Wild Extend Kirill Kaprizov for Eight Years in a Record Setting Deal

Mark Easson
5 Min Read
Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) celebrates his power play goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Wild and Kirill Karprizov signed the biggest contract in NHL history this morning. The Wild and Kaprizov agreed on an eight-year contract extension worth $136 million, a $17 million cap hit.

The 28-year-old has 185 goals and 201 assists in 319 NHL games. Kaprizov has 62 power play goals and 27 game winning goals.

Michael Russo: Though it’s not officially approved by the league yet, there is a full no-movement clause throughout. There is a $1 million salary each year, and the rest is to be paid out in bonuses.

2026-27: $1 million salary, and a $18.1 million signing bonus on July 1st
2027-28: $1 million salary, and a $18.1 million signing bonus on July 1st
2028-29: $1 million salary, and a $18.1 million signing bonus on July 1st
2029-30: $1 million salary, and a $18.1 million signing bonus on July 1st
2030-31: $1 million salary, and a $16 million signing bonus on July 1st
2031-32: $1 million salary, and a $14.2 million signing bonus on July 1st
2032-33: $1 million salary, and a $12.7 million signing bonus on July 1st
2033-34: $1 million salary, and a $12.7 million signing bonus on July 1st

A few thoughts from the media

Puck Pedia: “Interesting to note that in the next CBA, the league minimum salary will likely be above $1M in 2030-2031 & beyond, so Kaprizov would get a raise to the new minimum and have his contract automatically adjusted upwards.”

Jimmy Murphy: “To those bashing the new Kaprizov contract as too expensive or overpriced, get used to it. Do you not try to make the most you can in your job field? This is the new NHL market. Don’t blame the player/team, blame the market.”

Corey Masisak: “Year 1 of the current Nathan MacKinnon contract (2023-24): 15.089% of the salary cap ceiling. Year 2 of the current Kirill Kaprizov contract (2027-28): 14.977% of the salary cap ceiling. The economic landscape of the NHL is about to change, by … potentially not a little.”

Josh Yohe: “He’s a hell of a player. And that’s a franchise that had been deprived of top tier talent for a long time. So, I get it. But that’s…a lot.”

Pierre LeBrun: “Will be interesting now to see how Kaprizov extension impacts negotiations with other stars entering final season of their contracts, Eichel, Connor, Kempe, Tuch, Necas… everyone trying to figure out new NHL salary cap landscape. I didn’t mention 97 because that’s a unicorn.”

Michael Russo: “Minnesota absolutely had to get this done, as there’s no replacing Kaprizov. All of the team’s long-term plans revolve around him. Locking him in a year ahead of free agency eliminates potential angst, stress and distraction going into the season. It also gives Guerin some financial clarity on what his cap situation will look like in the coming years, knowing he’s going to have to build around this cap hit as the ceiling rises.”

Viz on Kaprizov

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