Kirill Kaprizov just became the highest-paid player in NHL history, signing a massive $136 million deal with the Minnesota Wild that’ll keep him in the State of Hockey through 2033.
The 27-year-old Russian star will get most of that money – all but $8 million – in signing bonuses. That’s pretty smart planning by his team, since bonus money comes with better tax benefits than regular salary.
It’s a huge jump from what players were making just last year. Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million per year deal with Edmonton was the previous high mark. Now Kaprizov’s getting $17 million annually – that’s a 21% increase in just over a year.
Things weren’t looking so rosy a few weeks ago. Word got out that Kaprizov had turned down an earlier offer from the Wild worth $16 million per year. That created some awkward tension heading into the season.
But now everyone’s smiling.
The timing couldn’t be better for Kaprizov. At 28, he’s right in his prime, and his value has never been higher.
Here’s the thing though – his stats, while impressive, aren’t quite at the level of guys like Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon. Kaprizov averages 1.24 points per game, while McDavid puts up 1.71.
Still, the Wild had to make this deal happen.
They’ve got a bunch of young talent coming up through their system – players like Marco Rossi and Danila Yurov – and keeping Kaprizov around while they develop was crucial.
It’s pretty amazing how far he’s come. The Wild found him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft – talk about a steal. He spent five years becoming a star in Russia’s KHL before coming to Minnesota.
Since arriving in the NHL, he’s been nothing short of spectacular. He won Rookie of the Year in 2021, and last season he was on pace for 112 points before getting hurt.
That’s actually the one worry here. While incredibly talented, Kaprizov has missed quite a few games lately – 63 over the past three seasons due to various injuries.
The good news for Wild fans? Even with this massive contract, the team still has about $23 million in cap space for next season. Plus, they’ve got their core locked up – Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Brock Faber are all signed through at least 2030.
That’s what you call planning for the future.
