By Thomas Williams -
It's finally done. Superstar Kirill Kaprizov is reportedly re-signing with the Minnesota Wild, keeping him in the State of Hockey beyond this upcoming season.
First reported by ESPN's Kevin Weekes and then later confirmed by The Athletic's Michael Russo, the Wild and Kaprizov have agreed to a contract. There was no official word on the dollar amount or the length, until Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman quickly reported that it is an eight-year extension that will come in with a cap hit over $16 million AAV.
Then, just in time to not let the rumors fester, the Wild officially announced the new deal that keeps the best player in franchise history, in St. Paul for potentially the rest of his career.
This contract will keep him with the Wild through the 2033-34 season and will kick in starting next season, the 2026-27 campaign. Kaprizov was a pending unrestricted free agent and was set to hit the open market next summer, with all 31 other teams licking their lips at the thought of being able to bring in one of the best players in the world.
As Friedman posted, this is the biggest contract in NHL history. Kaprizov now has the highest cap hit in the league, a record previously held by Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and his $13.25-million AAV, and the Wild star will also have the largest contract in terms of total dollars, with $136 million committed to the 28-year-old winger. Previously, Alex Ovechkin's 13-year, $124-million contract held that title.
This deal now comes after Kaprizov reportedly rejected a deal that was also eight years but exactly $16-million per year. One would have to assume that this slight increase in dollars is something that pushed the deal over the finish line and got the Russian superstar's signature on the dotted line.
Now, the Wild will thankfully be heading into a very crucial 2025-26 season without the noise surrounding their best player. The contract is done and finalized, and now everyone knows where Kaprizov will be playing for several more years.
Last year, Kaprizov scored 25 goals and 56 points in just 41 games and was on pace to finish as a Hart Trophy finalist before an injury derailed his MVP-level season. He already owns the Wild franchise record for most points in a season when he scored 47 goals and 108 points during the 2021-22 campaign, and with some boring contract talks behind him, maybe he'll break his own record once again.
The Wild knew that this would essentially be life or death for the franchise. Either sign him for anything at all and keep your playoff dreams alive and possible contention hopes fruitful, or be a bubble playoff team for eternity.
Thank goodness that's done.
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