Home / Sports / Minnesota Wild Lock Up Superstar Kirill Kaprizov with Record-Breaking 8-Year, $138M Deal
Minnesota Wild Lock Up Superstar Kirill Kaprizov with Record-Breaking 8-Year, $138M Deal
30 Sep
Summary
- Kaprizov signs 8-year, $138M contract with Minnesota Wild
- Deal is the richest in NHL history in total dollars and average annual value
- Kaprizov, 28, was entering final year of previous contract and could have become a free agent
In a major move, the Minnesota Wild have signed star player Kirill Kaprizov to a massive 8-year, $138 million contract extension. The deal, which begins in the 2026-27 season, is the richest in NHL history in terms of both total dollars and average annual value.
Kaprizov, who is 28 years old, was entering the final year of his previous contract and could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer. However, the Wild made it a priority to lock up their franchise cornerstone, with team president Bill Guerin meeting with Kaprizov and his agent earlier this month to finalize the agreement.
The new contract will pay Kaprizov more than recent Hart Trophy winners like Leon Draisaitl and Auston Matthews, cementing his status as one of the league's elite players. This is a significant moment for the Wild, who are hoping Kaprizov can help lead them to their first deep playoff run since 2015.
Despite missing half of last season due to injury, Kaprizov has established himself as one of the NHL's most dynamic scorers, with 185 goals and 386 points in 319 career games. The Wild are taking on some risk with this long-term deal, but they believe Kaprizov is worth the investment as they look to build a perennial contender around him.
