Article: Analyst Predicts Potential Intense Bidding War for Kirill Kaprizov

[Thomas Williams]

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[FredJohnson]

Are there any teams better than us with cap space to go after Kap? Pretty sure the usual cup contenders (Florida, Edmonton, Carolina, Dallas 🤮, Jets, Avenots, Knights) are all tight to the cap and would have to dump players to fit Kap under the cap. (Or fake a couple injuries like LV did.)

[0 Stanley Cups]

9 minutes ago, FredJohnson said:

Are there any teams better than us with cap space to go after Kap? Pretty sure the usual cup contenders (Florida, Edmonton, Carolina, Dallas 🤮, Jets, Avenots, Knights) are all tight to the cap and would have to dump players to fit Kap under the cap. (Or fake a couple injuries like LV did.)

I'll modify your question, are there any teams with better GM's that could create cap space to go after Kaprizov?  Yes! 

I'm most leery of Tampa Bay, if we end of having to trade him to TBL, they would have to dump Hagel's $6.5M to the Wild to start.  If Kirill totally screws the Wild like Gaborik and hits UFA, the cap jumps approx. $9M next season, then a lot of teams can go after but he likely isn't getting an $16-18M offer the Wild can offer from a contending team.

[0 Stanley Cups]

1 minute ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

I'll modify your question, are there any teams with better GM's that could create cap space to go after Kaprizov?  Yes! 

I'm most leery of Tampa Bay, if we end of having to trade him to TBL, they would have to dump Hagel's $6.5M to the Wild to start.  If Kirill totally screws the Wild like Gaborik and hits UFA, the cap jumps approx. $9M next season, then a lot of teams can go after but he likely isn't getting an $16-18M offer the Wild can offer from a contending team.

Unless NYR dumps Panarin (same KK agent) for a haul at the trade deadline, then signs KK to a massive number, but their roster is getting older, the Wild have a better roster of young talent.

[mnfaninnc]

I think we're going to have to come to grips with a 20% of the cap player if we want to keep Kaprizov. I didn't think he was all about the money, but we do know that his agent is all about the money. 

So, I've been thinking a bit. Let's just say that the cap goes to $170m during Kaprizov's contract. When he signed his $9m deal what was the cap? It was $81.1m. Is Kaprizov better than when he signed that deal? Yes. At the time, that put him at around 11-12% of the cap. 

When does anyone think that we will get the 2nd superstar? Unless that player comes through internally, and if what most are saying here, MN is not a destination franchise, will we be able to catch the big fish? I would have to say unlikely to that answer. Could Boldy be that 2nd guy? Yes, I think that is possible and even better than 50/50. 

Does Kaprizov want to handcuff us from acquiring another superstar, maybe a center for him? I don't think he does, but I also don't think his agent cares. His agent is in this to get Kaprizov the very best deal he can, and also to have other players see that he does this and perhaps switch over to his representation. His history suggests that he couldn't care less about a team's salary structure and will push for the most cash. Ultimately, Kaprizov is his boss in this negotiation, and will have a say as to whether or not he really wants to be here. My hope is that he chooses us.

Some say Guerin is intimidating and a bit arrogant. Yet, with an agent such as this, he has met his match. This guy will not be intimidated, and while Guerin held the cards in the Rossi negotiation, a reshuffling of the deck has produced him with a pair of deuces, and the agent looking at a full house. Even if the agent knows that Kaprizov wants to stay in MN, he hasn't let Guerin or the public in on that. Kaprizov has said all the right things but is letting his agent be his agent. 

Now, who knows, perhaps Guerin was preparing for this reality when he squeezed Rossi, since he had to find money from some place, especially early on in these contract years. But, it's not the Rossi negotiation next time that will make us top heavy, it is the Boldy negotiation that is going to do it. 

Buium should get a good piece, Jiricek should get a decent piece, and so should The Wall. We've got some great cap room now and should we resign Kaprizov for a close to max deal, we'll have some space for a little while, but that will change in about 4 seasons. But, then again, so will the other 31 teams' cap.

 

[Scalptrash]

His rejection pretty much says he doesn't believe the Wild can contend anytime soon. The Wild will have to significantly overpay to keep him, and what choice do they really have. Leipold wants butts in seats and w/o 97 there will start being a lot of empty ones.

I think Kirill would accept less money from a contender. Probably in the $14M range. The Wild will probably have to pony up $18Mx8 if they want to keep him (or something like $16x3, if term is the issue). Is he worth that? Even in the high cap era the NHL is entering into, two $9M players could outperform him and provide much more stability and security.

Is it about having and watching a superstar or building a cup contender? It's very difficult to have both. The Panthers are the new blueprint.

[MNCountryLife]

Players have value.  If their pay exceeds the on ice value they provide they become detrimental to the team.  Draisaitl just signed for $14M.  McDavid will likely sign the largest contract ever... and both those guys have a higher on ice value than Kirill.  They have proven it the last few years by taking the Oilers to the cup finals... but have not taken home the cup ... yet.  

Don't get me wrong.  I want to sign Kirill and hope it comes in at or less than $16M.  But Scalptrash makes a good point that two guys providing $9M on ice value could have more value than Kirill.  There is a limit to this madness.  Kirill has been fighting injuries the last 2 years.  Last 3 years his points have been 75,96,56.  A 75 point average.  Rossi and Boldy are not far behind.

Kirills demands could prevent the Wild from becoming a contender as easily as helping.  Especially if injuries continue.  There comes a point where you let him walk... and we are dangerously close to that level.

[0 Stanley Cups]

The Wild should pause for the moment, and wait to see if McDavid or Eichel sign in the interim.  If McDavid re-signs at $17-18M, because he realizes with EDM situation he can't consume 20% of the current cap, well that kind of destroys Kaprizov's (or more likely his agents) leverage.  A lot of other superstars around the league have accomplished much more than Kaprizov has at the moment, I hope he has a Hart or Rocket Richard caliber season this year, but it hasn't materialized yet.