NHL Shockwaves: Is Kirill Kaprizov Demanding a Jaw-Dropping 20% of the Salary Cap?

Negotiations around Kirill Kaprizov’s next contract are heating up in ways that could alter the NHL salary landscape for years. Rumors have swirled this week that Kaprizov turned down a hefty eight-year offer carrying a $16 million cap hit — but whispers from insiders now suggest he’s swinging for something closer to an eye-popping 20 percent of the salary cap. That would place him in the $18 to $19 million annual range, a figure that could redefine what elite players believe they’re worth, especially as projections show the cap potentially reaching $170 million in the near future. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild have been adamant they aren’t requesting Kaprizov’s trade preferences, painting this as a very much ongoing dialogue rather than a fracture in loyalty. It’s also widely reported that Kaprizov is sizing up how the market reacts to Connor McDavid’s new deal before he makes his move, adding another layer of complexity. This isn’t just a contract negotiation—it’s potentially a precedent setter for superstar deals going forward, with tension and anticipation thick in the air. LEARN MORE

Kirill Kaprizov could be thinking close to 20 percent of the cap

Marco D’Amico of RG Media: This week there have been reports of Kirill Kaprizov turning down an eight-year contract offer with a $16 million cap hit, and that the Minnesota Wild asked Kaprizov for a trade list.

A source said that Kaprizov is looking for close to 20 percent of the salary cap, in the $18 to $19 million range on an eight-year deal. The source notes that some believe the salary cap could hit upwards of $170 million in the next nine years, which may make long-term deals less appealing for the top players.

Another source said that Kaprizov is waiting to see how Connor McDavid resets the market, and adds that Wild owner Craig Leipold tied his hands when he said Kaprizov would be the lLeague’s highest-paid player.

A source, who is close to the Wild, said that the Wild haven’t and won’t be asking Kaprizov for a list of teams that he would accept a trade to.

After rejecting $16 million a year and possibly looking to 20 percent of the cap, this is not an easy negotiation. This contract could be resetting expectations for star players.

Minnesota Wild GM said that talks are ongoing with Kirill Kaprizov

Joe Smith and Michael Russo: Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin after the report of Kirill Kaprizov rejecting the Wild’s contract offer.

“We are still having ongoing talks. We love Kirill. We want to keep him here. I have a good relationship with his agent, and we are still in talks. We’re not panicking or anything. This is just part of negotiations.

“My job as general manager is to protect my players, and I don’t want this stuff in the public eye. That’s the way we’d like to keep it, so I’m not commenting any further on it. But I will say this: We absolutely want to keep Kirill in Minnesota.”

Kaprizov has a no-movement clause, and if it gets to a point where they feel he’s not going to re-sign at all, they have to ask if/where he’d consider a trade to. The Wild can’t have another Marian Gaborik situation where he rejected an offer, got hurt, and left in free agency. There is still plenty of time to get a deal done, but the speculation will be ongoing.

Sources didn’t get an indication that he’s looking for a short-term deal.

The longer it drags on, the more it makes you wonder if he could go to free agency next summer to see who would throw more money at him on a seven-year deal. Would the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Chicago Blackhawks be among the teams interested?

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