Wild Urged to Have Exit Plan if Kirill Kaprizov Rejects $128 Million Offer

Uncertainty Around Kirill Kaprizov's Commitment

Kaprizov, 28, is entering the final season of his five-year, $45 million contract. While general manager Bill Guerin is convinced the franchise and the player will agree to a new deal, Russo reported in late July that negotiations remain "not close."

"Bill Guerin has been extremely publicly confident that they are going to get it done," Russo said. "But from what I checked on the last couple days, they are not close."

According to Russo, the forward has hinted he might prefer a shorter three, or four-year agreement to retain leverage over his future.

Touching on that possibility and the worst-case scenario for the Wild in which Kaprizov rejects their record-breaking offer, co-host Anthony LaPanta cautioned that the Wild cannot afford to wait too long and must have a contingency plan in place.

“You can’t get past this year’s trade deadline and say, ‘We’re just going to let one of the greatest assets this franchise has ever had walk away for nothing’,” LaPanta said.

Russo agreed, adding, “I think you’d absolutely have to ask him for some teams that he’d be interested in going to.”

It's Down to Legacy vs. Leverage for Kirill Kaprizov

Kaprizov has spoken fondly of both his quiet hometown life in Russia and his adopted home in Minnesota, the last time at the end of the Wild's season in May.

“This is my agent’s job, (to) talk with Billy. But we will see,” Kaprizov said. “I love everything here. But (contract talks) should be all good. I don’t know what to say.”

Despite injury setbacks, Kaprizov has remained the Wild’s defining player since arriving in America in 2020. He has racked up 386 points (185 goals, 201 assists) in just 319 regular-season games, adding 21 points in 25 postseason contests.

Although Minnesota has made the playoffs in 11 of the last 13 seasons, the Wild have not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2015, making securing Kaprizov's future the clear-cut goal in the franchise's collective mind in order to stay competitive.