Insiders Planning for the Worst as Kaprizov's Projected Extension Offer Continues to Soar

Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild forward, is a pending UFA in 2026

The numbers for a Kirill Kaprizov extension continue to get... wilder and wilder, for the Minnesota Wild. Insider Michael Russo, speaking Friday on the latest edition of his Worst Seats in the House podcast, says the pending 2026 unrestricted free agent is likely to land a deal even richer than expected.

I believe they've offered him a ton of money. I think even more than I thought. On an eight year deal, they're willing to pay him (an AAV) in the $16 million range.

The numbers being thrown around earlier this summer were more at the $15M mark, but as the first true superstar in franchise history, Kaprizov can pretty much name his price.

The biggest thing for Minnesota is to try and get as much term as they can — at minimum, at least five years. Anything shorter than that, and it could send a message that Kaprizov perhaps only has one foot (skate) in and one out.

Wild GM Bill Guerin is continuing to show confidence that an extension will get done ahead of the coming season, but as Russo says, "the longer this goes, the bigger concern there is. Because if (he doesn't) sign a contract like this, you really have to start to question if he really wants to be here."

Minnesota Wild insiders prepare for the worst if Kaprizov won't take extension

Co-host Anthony LaPanta wondered how long the Wild should keep that 8x$16M offer on the table if he doesn't sign it by the time camp opens in a few weeks.

The two sides aren't actually going to sit down face-to-face until the Russian superstar gets back to Minnesota ahead of training camp, so for now, there's no panic.

Is a Kaprizov trade a real possibility?

But if he continues to balk at that offer for a couple of weeks once it's officially on the table, both Russo and LaPanta feel the Wild, at that point, would need to start thinking the unthinkable:

"I think you'd absolutely have to ask him for some teams that he'd be interested in going to," said Russo.

"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'," added LaPanta.

Certainly, the next month will be critical for the Wild and Kaprizov.

The three-time All-Star scored at a 50-goal pace this past season, with 25 goals in his 41 games, and had reached the 40-goal mark in each of the previous three campaigns.