Kaprizov, the Wild, and the NHL’s Growing Tampering Question

Kirill Kaprizov shocked many fans and pundits around the league when he turned down what would be a record-breaking contract. Kaprizov says he enjoys Minnesota. The organization clearly wants to retain his services. 

If they’re willing to give him more money to play hockey than any human ever, then what’s the holdup?

The answer may be more complicated than just wanting more money. The negotiation saga got a new wrinkle recently when Elliotte Friedman appeared on The FAN. The NHL insider said contract tampering played at least some part in Kaprizov turning down his record contract extension.

“I do believe there has been tampering/whispering going on,” he said. “I'll never be able to prove it, but I believe it.”

The notion of contract tampering is a big accusation, but not one Friedman is alone in expressing concern about. Michael Russo backed up the idea on The Sheet with Jeff Marek.

“I know that the Wild are definitely worried about it, and if it’s going on, they’ll try to deal with it,” Russo said. “It’s very clear that Kirill Kaprizov is going to be a wanted man if he ever gets to market. And there’s definitely teams out there that would put out the Brink’s truck for him.”

There’s no use in speculating about what teams may or may not be involved. Still, tampering would have huge ramifications league-wide, not just in Minnesota.

While it isn’t a major story yet, the issue of tampering in the NHL has gained significant momentum over the last 12 months.

The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a similar situation when star winger Mitch Marner required a new contract. Just as Friedman suspects teams tampered with Kaprizov, he raised concerns about the Vegas Golden Knights tampering with Marner.

“There has been some talk that if Marner goes to Vegas, the Leafs are going after the Golden Knights for tampering,” Friedman said. “The NHL is itching to make an example out of someone.”

Tampering charges were never filed because Toronto traded Marner’s negotiating rights to the Golden Knights instead of allowing the winger to sign with Vegas in free agency. The Maple Leafs received Nicholas Roy in the trade.

While Roy for Marner is hardly equal value, the Leafs got a solid NHL player in return for a pending free agent. Trading a pending free agent’s rights usually nets something much more modest.

Friedman suggested that the lingering threat of a tampering charge could persuade Vegas to give Toronto more than expected, which ultimately came to pass.

“If they make a deal with Toronto and send a good player or two to Toronto, I’m betting any chance the Maple Leafs file for tampering goes away.”

The situations aren’t one-to-one comparisons. Mitch Marner’s relationship with the Maple Leafs was more acrimonious than Kaprizov’s seems to be with the Wild. Another significant difference is that the Maple Leafs have other stars on their roster. There’s no other star like Kirill Kaprizov in Minnesota.

Kaprizov is a massive superstar for the team, both statistically and in terms of national relevance. These negotiations are the most relevant the Wild have been since they signed Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.

If the team loses Kaprizov, it won’t just be losing a great player; it will also be losing a key component of its franchise. The Wild will face questions about their ability to attract and retain top talent. What happens with Kaprizov is a watershed moment for the organization.

The vital nature of the situation leaves Bill Guerin and Co. in a tough spot. The worst-case scenario is that Kaprizov plays out his contract and becomes a free agent. The star Russian forward will become an unrestricted free agent next July, so the Wild could get nothing for the most valuable player they’ve ever had.

There’s also a situation in which the Wild trades Kaprizov. Minnesota isn’t looking to do that yet, but the longer this goes, the more likely a trade becomes. If the Wild are wary of tampering with Kaprizov as Friedman and Russo suggest, a trade negotiation could get interesting.

If tampering whispers persist, the Wild could find themselves in a situation similar to Toronto, where even unproven concerns influenced how negotiations unfolded.

The Wild don’t want to trade their star. Still, they could get interested teams to pay more if Minnesota can build a strong enough case to make a tampering allegation credible.

Any potential tampering allegation would be difficult to prove. However, if the league is looking to make an example of a team, as Friedman reported during the Marner situation, then opposing GMs will tread lightly if there’s even a hint of it. Those concerns are especially warranted because of the potential steep penalties that could be incurred if a team is involved in tampering.

Of course, the most desirable outcome is that Kaprizov re-signs with the Wild, and these whispers prove much ado about nothing.

A Kaprizov extension in Minnesota makes the most sense for every party. The Wild keep their star and are in a position to pay him as well as anyone else. The league would also prefer it to avoid any drama surrounding possible contract tampering.

The NHL has tiptoed around tampering concerns for years, but Kaprizov’s situation highlights why the issue won’t stay quiet forever. If other teams are whispering, it raises questions about competitive balance and how smaller-market franchises can realistically protect their stars.

The Wild’s negotiations with Kaprizov might be the most transparent test case yet. What happens in Minnesota will determine the direction of the franchise, but it could also force the NHL to reckon with its own rules and culture.