Wild's Kirill Kaprizov signs richest deal in NHL history with 8-year, $136M extension

Kirill Kaprizov looks on during the first period of the NHL preseason game between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kirill Kaprizov looks on during the first period of the NHL preseason game between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Minnestota Wild and Kirill Kaprizov have worked out a record deal for the Russian forward.

On Tuesday, Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million contract extension that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2033-24 season. The average annual value of $17 million and total contract dollars are the highest in NHL history, with the AAV surpassing that of previous record holder Leon Draisaitl's $14 million.

According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, Kaprizov will receive a $1 million salary per season, along with a July 1 signing bonus structure of $18.1 million from 2026-2029, then $16 million in 2030, $14.2 million in 2031, and $12.7 million in the final two years. The extension also features a full no-move clause.

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Kaprizov's new deal will kick in with the 2026-27 NHL season. His current contract, a five-year, $45 million extension signed in Sept. 2021, will expire after this coming season.

The 28-year-old Kaprizov, a fifth-round pick by the Wild in the 2015 NHL draft, is entering his sixth season. Since coming into the league in 2020-21, he has scored 185 goals, including three 40-goal seasons, and recorded 386 points.

Negotiations between the two sides had been ongoing as training camp approached. But a week before players reported, Kaprizov reportedly rejected an eight-year, $128 million contract.

"You guys know I like Minny and everyone knows this," Kaprizov said after camp opened two weeks ago. "We have a lot of time [to sign]. It's just 2025 and it's one more year I have. I just want to play hockey and focus and win some games and go into [the Stanley Cup] playoffs and win there. Just focus on this now."

How the massive Kaprizov deal affects future NHL contracts will be intriguing. Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid can be an unrestricted free agent next summer and currently carries a $12.5 million salary cap hit on his eight-year, $100 million contract, which he signed in 2017.

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