Former goalie Andrew Raycroft takes hilarious shot at Kirill Kaprizov

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild and superstar Kirill Kaprizov have agreed on an NHL record-breaking contract extension. It was trending everywhere: Kaprizov signed an eight-year deal carrying a $17 million average annual value, meaning the $136-million contract, which runs from 2026-27 through 2033-34, is the most expensive in NHL history.

Kaprizov’s cap hit is also the richest in NHL history, being a $3 million increase over the $14 million Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl agreed to in September 2024.

Kaprizov is entering his sixth NHL season with Minnesota after he was selected in the fifth round, 135th overall by the Wild back in 2015. That’s quite the promotion when you think of it, and former goalie Andrew Raycroft had something to say.

The former netminder, who was draft in the same spot years prior, 135th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1998, made sure everyone knew that he had that in commun with Kaprizov and could have perhaps cashed in on that. He posted on social media:

“I was picked 135th overall too.

God Damnit.”

Raycroft, who left a lasting legacy in Boston, has always been a fan favourite and his hilarious shot at Kaprizov made a lot of people laugh.

In his first full NHL season, not only did Raycroft lead Boston to the playoffs, but in the 57 games, he got a 29-18-9 record. In that season, he played in the NHL Young Stars Game, was named to the All-Rookie Team, and was awarded the Calder Trophy.

In the 2006 offseason, after struggling to come back to the game he loves post NHL lockout, Raycroft was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in which the Bruins received the rights to Tuukka Rask.

During his first year with Toronto, Raycroft regained his form and played in a career-high 72 games, winning 37 games, losing just 25 games, and losing nine in the shootout/overtime. He also had a 2.99 GAA and .894 SV%.

Following just one more season in Toronto, Raycroft played for the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and finished his NHL career with the Dallas Stars.

He never had the career to end up with a deal like Kaprizov’s, but you gotta love his joke on the record-breaking contract extension.