Kirill Kaprizov, one of hockey’s brightest stars, made waves on Wednesday when news broke that the Russian forward rejected what would have been the richest contract in NHL history—a reported eight-year, $128 million extension carrying a $16 million annual cap hit.
However, according to Wild general manager Bill Guerin, it’s not true at all.
"I don't know where this stuff comes from. My role as general manager is to protect our players. I know two things: That info didn’t come from us and it didn’t come from Kirill’s agent. I don’t know where it came from.
“Kirill and the organization, his agent and I, have a very good relationship," Guerin continued. "We’re working through things. We’re not gonna let things like this get in the way. I still think we’re in a really positive place with Kirill. And like I said, he’s just a great guy. Part of my role is to protect him, so we’re gonna let this go and we just move on."
If that scenario holds, it bodes well for the Wild. However, should any genuine hesitancy emerge from Kaprizov’s camp—whether now or at a later stage—there are several avenues through which the situation can be analyzed.
Money or happiness?
When a star player turns down a massive contract, it could mean a few things. For one, the player may want more money. Or and this could be more reflective on the team’s future, but perhaps this individual, regardless of how much money they do throw at him, wants nothing to do with the organization.
Of course, this remains firmly in the realm of hypotheticals. Wild GM Bill Guerin has already dismissed the original report as untrue. Still, if there were even a slight bit of truth behind it, the logic would be straightforward: either the dispute centers on money, the player prefers a shorter-term arrangement, or he envisions no future at all. Sometimes, a star simply lacks confidence in the organization’s long-term trajectory and no amount of money will change their mind.
Consider Connor McDavid’s situation in Edmonton. He has openly told reporters that he has earned the right to take his time with contract negotiations—and he is correct. McDavid has been the driving force behind the Oilers’ consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final and has collected multiple MVP honors along the way.
Few athletes in any sport have so thoroughly carried a franchise. Whether he ultimately stays in Edmonton or charts a new course elsewhere, McDavid has earned the right to dictate the terms of his career. His superstar status is not in question; it is the very reason he possesses such leverage in negotiations.
If the Oilers were to table an offer for McDavid surpassing the deal Kaprizov reportedly declined, Edmonton might likewise find itself staring at “rejected” stamped across the page. For McDavid, the sticking point is not financial—he has already earned generational wealth—but rather the mounting frustration of pouring his heart and soul into a Stanley Cup pursuit, only to see the team falter against the same opponent in consecutive years. Publicly, McDavid maintains his commitment to Edmonton, but such assurances read more as political correctness than anything else to save the drama.
Red Wings could win sweepstakes
The Detroit Red Wings, on the other hand, could win the sweepstakes by scooping up any of these players.
Detroit has now endured nine consecutive seasons without a playoff berth, though recent years suggest steady progress toward contention. The addition of a superstar such as McDavid or Kaprizov would be transformative, slotting seamlessly onto the top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.
The Red Wings also hold a competitive advantage in the form of $12 million in available cap space, affording them flexibility that many rivals lack. Coupled with an offseason emphasis on bolstering both the blue line and the goaltending corps, as well as one of the league’s most highly regarded prospect pipelines, Detroit is in prime position to jump on either opportunity should either one of them explore a move.
So while it appears that the Kaprizov news is false, at least according to Guerin, should he decide to leave the Wild, the Red Wings would welcome him with open arms.
The central challenge for Kaprizov is durability. At full health, he reliably produces in the 90-to-100-point range, yet availability has proven elusive: he has missed significant time in three of his five NHL seasons. This past year, the 28-year-old recorded 56 points (25 goals, 31 assists) in just 41 games—maintaining his point-per-game pace—while simultaneously sitting out more than 40 contests.
But nonetheless, if he were donning a Wings uniform, he’d light up the scoreboard. If Detroit can’t get McDavid, fans should be on board of the Kaprizov train.