At Least One Team Prepared to Offer Kaprizov Far More Than $16M AAV: Elliotte Friedman

Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild, looking on from bench

With the stunning report that Kirill Kaprizov turned down the largest contract offer in NHL history—$128 million over eight years, a $16M AAV—insider Elliotte Friedman posited on his “32 Thoughts” podcast on Thursday that there's only one good reason why the 28-year-old sniper would have done that:

For him to say no, it convinces me of one thing: him or his representatives, they know something else is out there that’s bigger.
For a deal to be bigger than the 8 x $16M from the Wild, assuming it is not a sign-and-trade, there has to be someone out there with a 7×$19M or 7×$20M. There's somebody out there sending up smoke signals, saying 'We can do better'.

Now, of course, that would be tampering, and we know that doesn't happen in the NHL, right?

The only 'logical explanation' for Kaprizov turning down Wild's $128M offer

Nevertheless, Friedman says that is the only "logical explanation." Kaprizov's camp is "sensing the way the wind is blowing," he says.

Friedman also puts a kibosh on the theory that the Russian superstar turned down that offer because he is more interested in a shorter-term deal. The insider cites Kaprizov's extensive injury history as the reason, and the likelihood that he wants to "lock in as many years as possible."

To be fair, the injury history isn't that extensive. Yes, he missed half the season last year due to surgery for a lower-body injury. But before that, he'd missed only 23 games total over his previous four years in the NHL.

With three 40-goal seasons on his resume, he was on pace for a 50-goal campaign last year if not for the injury. Whether he'll continue that dominance in Minnesota remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Minnesota GM Bill Guerin isn't thrilled about the word of Kaprizov's contract rejection getting out there.