By Kalisha Turnipseed -
Kirill Kaprizov has two seasons remaining on his contract, meaning this is a make-or-break season for the Minnesota Wild to convince Kaprizov that they can compete during his next term.
However, the Wild look like a borderline playoff team that can’t go on a deep run. General manager Bill Guerin made things tougher by extending veteran players to immovable contracts, meaning he can’t upgrade talent. Kaprizov likes it in Minnesota and has established a relationship with the team and the fanbase. But what if he doesn’t want to sign?
Kaprizov has an NMC, giving him control over where he plays. Kaprizov could waive to go to these three teams who are proven winners.
Florida Panthers
Target: Sam Reinhart package
Most likely
By offering Kaprizov, the Wild can trade for a bargain contract in Reinhart*, allowing them to sign more free agents if prospects don't pan out. The Wild should target Kyle Connor ($7.142 million) and old friend Alex Tuch ($4.75 million), who are on expiring deals, especially with Marcus Johansson ($2 million) and Mats Zuccarello ($4.125 million) becoming free agents. Connor and Tuch expire once Kaprizov and Zuccarello expire in 2026-27.
Reinhart carries a cap hit of $8.625 million until 2031-32. He’s a year older than Kaprizov, 27, and is in his prime. Reinhart may regress next season, but he can still be a reliable top-line two-way producer on a Cup contender. Reinhart scored 50 (57) goals before Kaprizov. Can Reinhart continue to be a 50-goal scorer?
Danila Yurov can be the Wild's next Russian star. Yurov won't be a superstar producer who scores 100 points, but he should become an elite two-way player who can play all three positions. Marco Rossi should be able to establish great chemistry with Yurov because their skill sets should complement one another.
If Riley Heidt, Liam Ohgren, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Hunter Haight don't become top-six producers, the Wild should look into getting Tuch at a bargain price to play with Rossi and Yurov. Tuch and Reinhart are the same age and are both right-handed shots with size.
Guerin wants the Wild to play with more intensity and have more size. Reinhart and Tuch fit that description and know how to play in a playoff setting. If the Wild want a proven top-line talent with winning experience, then Reinhart is who they should target.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Target: Brandon Hagel package
Likely
Hagel is becoming a high-end top-six producer for Tampa. Still, if the Lightning knew they could replace him with Kaprizov, they would instantly pull the trigger. They would love to play Kaprizov with Nikita Kucherov to start more dynasty runs, especially after Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators this offseason. The Lightning also signed Jake Guentzel, so they will be calling about Kaprizov.
Hagel could slot either with Boldy and Eriksson Ek or Rossi and Yurov. Hagel is an established 30-goal scorer, so perhaps having playmakers like Rossi and Yurov can help Hagel reach 30 goals once again. Hagel has elite transition speed and soft hands, and he’ll take a beating in front of the net in addition to his goal-scoring ability.
He has a team-friendly $6.5 million cap hit until 2031-32. While Hagel has a no-trade clause (NTC), it won't come into effect until 2026-27. So the Lightning would need to trade Hagel next year since he has no protection. Hagel will then have a modified no-move clause (M-NTC) from 2028-29 to 2031-32. The Wild can get more out of a Hagel package than a Reinhart package.
If the Wild want to transition back into a high-tempo transition team, then getting Hagel is the direction they should go if the Lightning calls for him. Hagel will replace Marcus Johansson’s speed but possess the grit and shot Johansson doesn't have. Hagel hasn't entered his prime yet.
Colorado Avalanche
Target: Cale Makar
Least likely
The Wild are unlikely to trade with a division rival, but they have done business with the Avalanche before, trading Nico Sturm for Tyson Jost and Brandon Duhaime this past March. Colorado would love to get back into being a Cup finalist, and Kaprizov would benefit from playing with Nathan MacKinnon as his center.
Makar’s contract has the same cap hit as Kaprizov at $9 million, and he will get a hefty raise. Surprisingly, Makar also doesn’t have trade protection. Mikko Rantanen will also need a contract. Minnesota can’t allow the Avs to have MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanen, and Kaprizov simultaneously. The Wild can target Rantanen, but he’s in the last year of his contract with an M-NTC that will likely turn into an NMC.
Imagine Makar, Brock Faber, and Zeev Buium being the cornerstones of the Wild's blueline for years. Makar is a better skater than Kaprizov and can facilitate offense as good, if not better than Kaprizov, as a defenseman. Makar will be the greatest Wild defenseman since Brent Burns. Makar mentoring Buium and Faber will do wonders.
The Avalanche don't have any other defensemen on the team who can replace Makar’s star power. Imagine the Avalanche giving Josh Manson top-pairing minutes. The Avalanche don't have a prospect who can replace Makar either. While the Avalanche would be scary with Kaprizov, MacKinnon, Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, Valerie Nischushkin, and Casey Mittelstadt as their top-six, they need defensemen.
Ideally, the Avalanche would trade either Nischushkin or Mittelstadt in a package. Should the Wild look into getting Mittelstadt back in Minnesota?
The Wild face their biggest challenge in retaining Kaprizov beyond his current contract. This season allows the organization to show its commitment to building a competitive team capable of succeeding in the playoffs. While Kaprizov enjoys playing in Minnesota, if the Wild fail to show significant progress this season, he'd want to test the market to play for a better franchise.
*An earlier version of this article misstated Reinhart's trade protection. We regret the error.
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