Minnesota Wild Anxious as Future of 27-Year-Old Star Hangs in the Balance Amid Contract Negotiations
The NHL season isn’t over yet, but the Minnesota Wild and their star forward Kirill Kaprizov have been out of playoff contention for weeks, marking their first miss in five years. As a result, local fans and media are already focusing on the offseason.
Bill Guerin, the President of Hockey Operations, faces a significant challenge with a roster that needs substantial improvement. Unfortunately, the Wild are constrained by limited salary cap space due to lingering effects from the buyouts of Parise and Suter, which will continue to impact them for another year.
According to a report by Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic on Thursday, the Wild are anxious about the prospect of Kirill Kaprizov leaving for a more competitive Stanley Cup contender due to their current lack of talent and recent struggles.
Craig Leipold acknowledged last fall that securing Kaprizov with a contract extension, when his current $9 million per year deal expires, is a top priority for the team. Until Kaprizov signs, concerns remain valid.
Kaprizov’s desire to win is paramount, often feeling isolated on the ice during too many games. He also has connections throughout the league who may try to persuade him to join their teams, not to mention a determined agent with a track record of clients moving to different teams. Negotiating Kaprizov’s first two contracts was also not straightforward.
The Athletic’s report paints a worst-case scenario where Kaprizov’s decision hinges largely on his desire to contend for Stanley Cups. As things currently stand, Kaprizov reportedly doubts that the Minnesota Wild are poised for significant playoff runs in the near future.
The Minnesota Wild’s owner is understandably nervous. While the team has a $9 million per year contract offer ready for Kirill Kaprizov, the star forward does not appear inclined to sign an extension at this time, adding to the apprehension.
Next summer, the Wild plan to pull out all the stops to extend Kaprizov’s contract. However, if an agreement isn’t reached by the following offseason, anxiety about the star player’s future will likely intensify.
If Kaprizov decides not to re-sign, the Wild would have considerable cap space to pursue other star players. Consequently, it is crucial for Kaprizov to see a path to long-term success and genuine contention for championships in Minnesota.
In conclusion, the pressure is on Craig Leipold and Bill Guerin to do whatever it takes to secure Kirill Kaprizov’s long-term commitment to the Wild.
