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NHL Insider Makes Wild Leon Draisaitl, Kirill Kaprizov Prediction

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Levine | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 3:48 PM ET

NHL contracts have gotten more wild over the years due to a rising salary cap across the league. This has seen teams pay star players some extrodinary amounts of money, and it has changed the entire way players look at deals.

One of the next big deals expected in the NHL will likely come from Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. Kaprizov has been in negotiations with the Wild all offseason, but nothing has been able to be finalized of yet.

However, many around the league believe that the star will eventually come to terms with the team. But where that number lands remains completely unknown.

According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, Kaprizov could get more than Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl on his new deal. This would certainly be a shocking turn of events since Draisaitl is seen as one of the best players in the entire league.

Chris Johnston: Re Kirill Kaprizov extension: I believe he'll get more than Draisaitl; it wouldn't surprise me if he got something like 15 million - Steve Dangle Podcast (Jul 15)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 20, 2025

If Kaprizov were to get money like Draisaitl, it would come with some big expectations. Kaprizov has been very good to start his NHL career, but the Wild haven't seen too much success with him on the roster.

While hockey is a team sport, Kaprizov hasn't lived up to the same level of performance that a player like Draisaitl has. Draisaitl has helped lead the Oilers to two straight Stanley Cup titles, but in fairness, the Oilers have a better roster than the Wild.

Kaprizov is an excellent scorer, but to make around $15 million per season in the NHL, he would need to prove that he is among the best. Last season, Kaprizov posted 25 goals and 31 assists for the Wild, which was a big decline from his previous seasons.

The Wild star has reached the 40-goal mark three straight years, but injuries did take over last season. However, if he does get a new contract, Minnesota will be expecting some massive success from Kaprizov.

This would put a lot of pressure on him, and it remains unknown at this time if he could live up to it all.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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