The Minnesota Wild signed star forward Kirill Kaprizov to an NHL-record eight-year, $136 million contract extension on Tuesday.
The deal, which begins in the 2026-27 season, carries a $17 million annual cap hit for the Wild and comes on the heels of Kaprizov reportedly rejecting an eight-year, $128 million extension earlier this month.
“We’re extremely excited about this. Good things take time,” general manager Bill Guerin said Tuesday. “You guys can stop asking the most obvious question in the world. We never wanted to even entertain Kirill not being here. Everyone in this organization has worked to get to where we are today. Kirill has been a big part of this thing growing. It going the other way would have been … devastating. I know all of his teammates are very excited. Everybody knows what he means to the team.”
Kaprizov, 28, was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 once his five-year, $45 million contract expired. He spoke on his desire to sign another contract with the Wild earlier this month, and said he’s glad not to be thinking about the contract.
“I’m so happy for nine more years here,” Kaprizov said Tuesday. “It’s my second home here. You always sometimes feel pressure. It’s going to happen. I like this kind of pressure. I’ll try to (do more) practicing and playing harder and help your team. But now I don’t feel pressure.
“Everyone talked about it. In the locker room you can feel sometimes players are thinking about it. Now it’s all done. I’m excited for the season to start.”
Kaprizov’s contract is the highest in NHL history in terms of total money and average annual value, besting the previous deal of Washington Capitals superstar captain Alex Ovechkin, who previously played under a $124 million contract that ran from 2008-20.
Kaprizov’s extension eclipses the contract of Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, who held the distinction of having the league’s current most expensive contract in terms of total value ($112 million over eight years) and average annual value ($14 million).
“Most people look at the money and say it’s an easy decision. It’s not,” Guerin said. “If the hockey is not good, you won’t be happy. That’s one thing I love about Kirill. He loves the hockey.”
It’s also worth noting that Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid is entering the final season of his eight-year, $100 million contract.
Kaprizov recorded 56 points (25 goals, 31 assists) and a plus-19 rating in just 41 games during an injury-riddled season in 2024-25.
“It’s long-term. My last contract maybe. I think a lot about this,” said Kaprizov, a native of Russia. “If I’m happy, my family, friends are happy.”
When asked how he’ll celebrate, Karpizov deadpanned, “play in the game tonight.”
The Calder Trophy recipient as the NHL’s top rookie in 2020-21, Kaprizov has totaled 386 points (185 goals, 201 assists) and a plus-71 rating in 319 career regular-season games with the Wild.
–Field Level Media
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