The prospect of Kirill Kaprizov leaving the Minnesota Wild has become real. That's just what rejecting an eight-year, $128 million contract extension that would have made you the highest-paid player in NHL history is going to do.
While general manager Bill Guerin has tried to quiet all of the noise around the future of his superstar winger, it hasn't worked too well and the rumors and speculation are just getting started.
Wild insider Michael Russo knows that soon enough the team will need to start fielding offers for Kaprizov if no extenstion is in place, and during the recent episode of the "DFO Rundown" podcast, he singled out the Carolina Hurricanes as a good fit for everyone involved.
With that information, Spencer Lazary of Heavy Sports has proposed a blockbuster trade that would send Kaprizov to Carolina for a return package centered around Andrei Svechnikov.
Hurricanes receive: Kirill Kaprizov (seven-year, $126 million extension)
Wild receive: Andrei Svechnikov, Bradly Nadeau, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick
"In the Heavy Sports proposal, the Wild receive a package built around Svechnikov, Nadeau, and two high picks. Comparisons have already been made to the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade this past offseason, where the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t get a massive haul in return. That deal showed how difficult it can be to maximize value when a franchise player is uncertain about his future," Lazary wrote.
"General manager Bill Guerin may need to take a different approach. A deal involving Svechnikov, Nadeau, and draft picks would provide both a proven top-six forward and a prospect on the verge of the NHL, while also adding future assets. The inclusion of multiple draft picks could give the Wild the chance to land a later-round gem who could be part of the future for years to come," Lazary added.
Kaprizov is of course about to enter the final season of the five-year, $45 million extension he signed with the Wild in 2021, while Svechnikov is locked in for another four years on the eight-year, $62 million deal he signed to extend with the Hurricanes in 2021.
Strong return for Minnesota
If the Minnesota Wild conclude that they have to trade Kirill Kaprizov, then this is the exact type of haul they need to be shooting for in return.
With or without Kaprizov, the Wild want to remain competitive now and moving forward, which a 25-year-old Svechnikov, who has flashed star potential, fits to a tee. Add on a top prospect in Nadeau plus draft capital, and you've got a pretty intriguing offer.
Minnesota could hold out for even more given the caliber of player they'd be parting with here, though they don't possess all of the leverage with Kaprizov being a pending UFA.
So, should Eric Tulsky come to the table with such a package, it will be very difficult for Bill Guerin and company to turn it down.