The Wild Should Have Enough Of A Under-24 Core To Retain Kaprizov

Kirill Kaprizov has two years left on his contract, and general manager Bill Guerin will do whatever he can to retain his star. The problem is the Wild aren't a contender, and time is running out. Will Minnesota’s Under-24 Group convince Kaprizov to stay? 

The Wild must convince Kaprizov that they are ready to make a Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2027-28, four years from now. 

Here are five reasons why the Wild’s Under-24 Group will convince Kaprizov to extend. 

Playing With Danila Yurov 

Yurov is a bigger version of Mats Zuccarello but mostly plays center. However, Yurov can play wing in this case because Joel Eriksson Ek will be playing center between these two. Eriksson Ek deserves his place on the top line as an established 30-goal scorer. Is it possible that he becomes a 40-goal scorer? 

Matt Boldy occupies the left wing spot on the top line, but he doesn't play with the intensity Guerin wants. Can Yurov provide that intensity despite being smaller than Boldy? Yurov has already caught up to speed with the professional game in Russia, and he should still be productive against bigger players in the NHL. Yurov is Minnesota’s only prospect who can challenge Boldy for his top-line spot. Their initials are fitting because they’ll be KEEY to the Wild’s offense. 

An Explosive Top-Nine 

The Wild need a top-nine with a mix of speed, size, and skill. Even if Minnesota uses Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, and Yurov on its top line, it still can build a productive line around Boldy. Riley Heidt and Hunter Haight showed brilliant chemistry with Sammy Walker in training camp last year. Walker won't be playing a top-six role in the NHL, but Boldy's an established top-six player. Heidt and Haight upgrade from Walker to Boldy. 

Haight has hit his growth spurt, going from 5-foot-10, 172 lbs. to 6-foot-2, 182 lbs. last year. Haight is the center Guerin is looking for, someone who brings speed and more size than Rossi, but he needs to grow into his new frame. Haight can learn from Eriksson Ek how to use his frame at center. The Wild can create a lethal top-six by playing Heidt on the opposite wing from Boldy. Heidt has made it clear that he wants to make the team this fall, but if he doesn't, he should play for a year in Europe. 

Rasmus Kumpulainen is going back to Finland for two years. Kumpulainen has the potential to be the Wild's next Mikko Koivu, but playing a secondary role. Guerin wants big centers down the middle, and Kumpulainen fits that description. Just because Haight and Kumpulainen could take over the middle-six center spots doesn't mean that the Wild should trade Rossi. He can be lethal on the left wing alongside Kumpulainen and Liam Ohgren to finalize the Wild’s top-nine. These three are the RKO Randy Orton line. 

Rieger Lorenz’s Clutch Scoring 

Lorenz is the Wild’s sleeper prospect because of his versatility, clutch scoring potential, and his ability to adapt to being a shutdown player. He'll be playing a shutdown role with Marat Khusnutdinov and Yakov Trenin in the bottom-six. 

Lorenz displayed his clutch scoring when it mattered the most, scoring a goal and an assist on the two goals against the Boston College Eagles to win the NCAA championship. Lorenz will finish his college career and likely sign his Entry-Level Contract (ELC) because the Wild drafted Denver teammate Zeev Buium 12th overall in this year’s draft. They are once again reunited. 

Will Lorenz force a Marcus Foligno trade? Lorenz is already ahead of Charlie Stramel on the depth chart and has more skill and speed to offer. The Wild need bottom-six scoring, and Lorenz will bring that more than an aging Foligno. In 2026-27, Foligno’s contract status will change from a No-Movement Clause (NMC) to a Modified No-Trade Clause (M-NTC). Foligno will have two seasons left, which means he's tradeable. Guerin should be willing to retain salary just to move Foligno to bring in Lorenz. 

Dynamic Top-Four Defense 

With Faber and Buium, the Wild have an opportunity to have one of the best top defensive pairs in the NHL. Together, they could play up to 30 minutes a game. Buium will be the power play ace on the top unit, while Faber thrives on the top penalty kill. 

However, the Wild need another defensive pair who can bring secondary scoring and two-way ability for Buium and Faber. 

Lambos and Healey are the next two bona fide defenders who can make a dynamic pair because of their skating alone. Lambos had a rough rookie year in Iowa for the Wild (AHL), but this only means he’ll fully get the opportunity to adjust starting next season from the WHL. 

Daemon Hunt’s first AHL season didn’t go as he would’ve wanted, but he improved his point production and got to play some NHL games this season. Once Lambos finds his stride, he can become a dangerous player who has first-round value than Hunt. Perhaps become Jonas Brodin’s successor? 

Healey had a similar experience, much like Lambos, but he plays for Harvard. Healey's freshman season wasn't what he wanted, but he improved his point production as a sophomore. Can Healey elevate himself from being a power play specialist? The Wild don’t want another Calen Addison on their hands. You can’t deny Healey's skating ability. Hopefully, he will develop into another version of Brandon Montour, who won the Cup with the Florida Panthers. 

Confident Goaltending Duo 

In April of this year, Guerin signed Samuel Hlavaj to a two-year ELC. Hlavaj was one of the top players during the IIHF Men's World Championships. 

Hlavaj will challenge Jesper Wallstedt to play at his best! Wallstedt will gain more experience this coming season. However, depending on how things go next season, he won't be a starter until 2025-26. Will the Wild trade Filip Gustavsson so Wallstedt can get more playing time? Hlavaj is Gustavsson’s replacement, who can back up Wallstedt in net. 

Hlavaj is going to get playing time with the Iowa Wild unless he has a bad start and gets playing time in the ECHL with the Iowa Heartlanders. Hlavaj made his confidence clear when he described the prospects as easy competition to him. If that's the case, everyone needs to step their game up. Hlavaj's confidence will rub off on the players to have a better season. So if Hlavaj becomes a starter in Iowa, then Wallstedt will be on the 23-man roster. 

The Wild have a team equipped for a deep playoff run because Kaprizov has backup scoring so he can continue dominating the NHL. Minnesota also has a potential defense that can be one of the NHL's best top-four's who can all play on the power play. The Wild will finish off potentially having one of the best goaltending duos to help them make the playoffs and steal games. So Kaprizov’s convinced he has the support to sign another five-year extension.