Another NHL team emerges in Kirill Kaprizov contract drama!

The buzz around Kirill Kaprizov got even more intense on Wednesday when it was reported that Kaprizov’s camp turned down an extension offer believed to be 8-years, $128 million in a meeting on Tuesday in Minnesota that would have made him the highest-paid player in NHL history in both AAV ($16 million) and total dollars. While the Wild has said it will do anything to keep the superstar forward in Minny, insiders Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe the team will have to, sooner or later, consider the possibility of asking Kaprizov a handful of teams he would consider a trade to.

“If Kaprizov won’t entertain a contract extension by the Wild, it could be incumbent on Guerin to get a handful of teams Kaprizov would consider a trade to.”

On Thursday, rumours emerged that the Wild had indeed approached Kaprizov, asking him for his trade list.

Later on though, Cam Robinson was informed by sources that, “reports that the Wild have approached Kaprizov’s camp for a trade list appears premature”, hence shutting down the trade rumours.

However, another insider has brought an interesting detail to everyone’s attention. Elliotte Friedman believes that Kaprizov and his representatives may have turned down the Wild’s hefty contract offer because they suspect another NHL team would be willing to offer him even more.

“For him to say no convinces me that he or his representatives know something else is out there that’s bigger,” Friedman said. “Assuming this is not sign and trade, there has to be somebody out there with a 7-year, $19 million or 7-year $20 million [offer]. There’s somebody who is sending up smoke signals, saying ‘We can do better.’”

Earlier this month, Wild owner Craig Leipold stated that he would offer Kaprizov the be biggest in NHL history, meaning it would be more than the one signed by Alex Ovechkin in 2008. The Washington Capitals superstar inked a 13-year pact worth $124 million. The highest cap hit is owned by Leon Draisaitl at $14 million. He signed an eight-year, $112-million extension with the Edmonton Oilers in September 2024. And now it sure looks like Kaprizov wants his next deal to be more than a $16 million AAV…

The Russian star can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, when his five-year, $45 million contract comes to an end. Kaprizov has been eligible to sign an eight-year contract with Minnesota since July 1, but fans in Minny are still waiting.

The insiders are adamant that the Wild and general manager Bill Guerin cannot lose Kaprizov for nothing at free agency next summer. There is still time, sure, but at least, the idea of trading the star forward has to be on the table in Minnesota. Especially if the forward knows he could get more elsewhere…

Last year, Kaprizov finished the year with 25 goals and 56 points in 41 games, a 50-goal, 112-point pace over 82 contests, and eventually added five goals and nine points in six playoff games as the Wild lost in the first round to the Vegas Golden Knights.

He is likely to be as productive this upcoming season, and I bet Wild fans would prefer if Kaprizov were under contract before the season opener puck drop.