Every team in the NHL is positioning itself to pounce on the potential that a superstar becomes available this upcoming year or the offseason that follows.
Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, and Kyle Connor, just to name a few, headline the 2026 UFA class, all remaining unsigned as we approach puck drop on 2025-26.
As we’ve all seen before, plenty of free agents wind up re-signing with their own team before even making it to July 1, though it feels different this time around.
At least one or maybe a few of the marquee names appear likely to land elsewhere over the next ten months, and after rejecting an eight-year, $128 million contract extension from the Minnesota Wild, Kaprizov’s potential departure has been speculated about most.
The superstar winger’s love for the city of Chicago has been well documented, and given the Blackhawks' cap space and desire to turn the corner in their rebuild, they’ll be all in on Kaprizov. What would it take to acquire him? Hannah Stuart of Bleacher Report shared her proposal, which included veteran Teuvo Teravainen, prospect Oliver Moore, and a draft pick.
Blackhawks receive: Kirill Kaprizov
Wild receive: Teuvo Teravainen, Oliver Moore, first- or second-round pick
"Going back the other way, you have to think that Guerin would insist on a high-value prospect at the very least, and the speedy and talented Oliver Moore came up right in his backyard at the University of Minnesota. Moore has since turned pro, giving Guerin some surety he wouldn't have if Moore were still in the NCAA," Stuart wrote.
"In terms of a player to help the Wild now, Teuvo Teravainen has some life in him yet (that feels like an absurd thing to say about a 31-year-old, but we all know how aging works in hockey). The likely Olympian is still a fairly prolific scorer and will help replace some of Kaprizov's point totals," Stuart added.
The 28-year-old, Kaprizov, is poised to enter the final season of the five-year, $45 million extension signed with the Wild in 2021, while Teravainen is heading into the second season of the three-year, $16.2 million deal he signed with the Blackhawks in 2024.
Would the Wild trade in division?
While the Chicago Blackhawks could make a lot of sense for Kirill Kaprizov, can the same be said for the Minnesota Wild?
If the Wild were to trade Kaprizov, they’d be shifting even more towards building for the future, which will coincide with the rise of the Blackhawks getting back into contention. Evidently, they would then have to deal with Kaprizov 3-4 times a year and potentially in the postseason for the foreseeable future as Central Division rivals.
For a return package that cannot be refused, it could be worth it, but if Minnesota gets similar or better trade offers from Eastern Conference teams, then expect them to send their superstar somewhere they won't have to see him too often.