We continue to creep closer to the start of the 2025-26 NHL regular season, yet there's still no agreement on a contract extension between Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild.
The superstar winger is back in town for training camp, so one meeting or phone call can change everything, but as of right now, it feels more and more likely that he enters the year as a pending UFA.
That puts plenty of pressure on Bill Guerin and company to decide whether they truly have a chance to re-sign Kaprizov or if they need to start scouring the trade market. Given that he's already rejected their historic eight-year, $128 million extension offer, the latter might just be the way it goes.
Interest in Kaprizov would be enormous, though he'll only be dealt somewhere he's willing to extend long-term, which puts the ball in his court. The New York Rangers are one of a handful of teams that make a lot of sense, and because of that, Hannah Stuart of Bleacher Report recently created an offer that would bring the Russian superstar to the Big Apple.
Rangers receive: Kirill Kaprizov
Wild receive: Alexis Lafreniere, first-round pick, various lower-round picks
"It's a new regime in New York this season, with Mike Sullivan arriving from Pittsburgh to be the head coach and J.T. Miller being named captain—both strong signals of where the team is likely headed. The Rangers like marquee names and flash, and I've wondered for a while if Lafreniere might want or need a fresh start somewhere. Being part of a Kaprizov trade just might do the trick. Sure, you're not getting back the exact same scoring value, but let's be real. This is Kaprizov. You were never going to. But Lafreniere has become quite useful in recent years, and a new environment could be the jolt he needs. He's only 23 years old, after all," Stuart wrote.
The 28-year-old, Kaprizov, has one year remaining on the five-year, $45 million extension he signed with the Wild back in 2021. On the other hand, Lafreniere, 23 years old, is about to begin the first season of his seven-year, $52.15 million contract signed with the Rangers in 2024.
Rangers will be a frontrunner for Kaprizov
The New York Rangers are undoubtedly going to be a team to watch as major players in the Kirill Kaprizov sweepstakes should they reach that point.
Kaprizov is seeking massive money, an opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup, and likely a bigger market than Minnesota; New York fits the mold to perfection.
His relationship with fellow Russians Artemi Panarin and Igor Shesterkin also doesn't hurt, not to mention the recently signed Vladislav Gavrikov.
Several other teams will be in the running to pry Kirill Kaprizov away from the Wild, though they'll all be in tough trying to fend off the Rangers in their pursuit.