Despite reports that Kirill Kaprizov declined the most lucrative contract offer in NHL history, both the star forward and the Minnesota Wild organization remain committed to reaching an agreement.
As training camp commenced on Thursday, Kaprizov`s impending free agency on July 1 became a central discussion point. Wild General Manager Bill Guerin, however, stated his intention to keep the negotiation details confidential.
Guerin affirmed the team`s stance, remarking, “Everything is progressing well. Our primary goal is to secure Kirill. He is our cornerstone player, and we are dedicated to retaining him as a vital member of our squad. We are actively pursuing this objective and doing everything within our power.”
Earlier in September, Kaprizov reportedly rejected an eight-year, $128-million extension, a deal that would have set new NHL records for both annual average value and total compensation.
When questioned about his free agency status on Thursday, Kaprizov directed inquiries to his agent but reaffirmed his desire to remain with the Minnesota Wild.
Even with only five NHL seasons under his belt, Kaprizov has rapidly emerged as one of the league`s most formidable offensive talents. A three-time scorer of over 40 goals, he has maintained a point-per-game pace in all but one of his NHL campaigns and was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league`s top rookie in the 2020-21 season.
Last season, the Russian forward`s performance was affected by injuries, restricting him to just 41 games. Nevertheless, he proved highly effective, recording 25 goals and 31 assists, and matching his career-best shooting percentage of 17.2%.
A three-time All-Star, Kaprizov was a remarkable find for the Wild, having been drafted in the late rounds as the 135th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
