Kirill Kaprizov no longer holds the NHL's highest average annual value contract. The Anaheim Ducks matched a five-year, $90 million offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson on Thursday, giving him an AAV of $18 million. That beats the $17 million AAV Kaprizov secured in his eight-year, $136 million extension with the Minnesota Wild. The Ducks had until Friday's 3 p.m. ET deadline to match the offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers.
How does Carlsson's deal compare to Kaprizov's?
Kaprizov's contract, signed in 2024, set the previous NHL benchmark at $17 million per season. Carlsson's new deal pushes that number to $18 million annually. But the similarities end there. Kaprizov, now 29, was already an established star when he signed — a 40-goal scorer and Hart Trophy finalist. Carlsson, 21, has yet to reach that level. The Ducks are betting on his future.
What makes this deal different?
The structure favors Carlsson heavily. The contract is frontloaded with signing bonuses. For the 2026-27 season alone, Carlsson will earn nearly $20 million in cash. He just finished an entry-level deal with a $950,000 cap hit. The Ducks still have about $9 million in cap space for next season, helped by the NHL's record $104 million cap for 2026-27.
Why it matters for Kirill Kaprizov
Kaprizov's record stood for less than two years. That's a short reign for a milestone that once seemed untouchable. The Wild forward remains one of the league's most productive wingers, but the salary landscape is shifting fast. Young players like Carlsson, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Bedard are driving up costs. Kaprizov's deal now looks like a bargain compared to what's coming.
What comes next for the Wild?
Minnesota still has Kaprizov under contract through 2031-32. The Wild built their cap structure around his $17 million hit. With the cap rising, that number becomes more manageable. But the precedent is set. If Carlsson gets $18 million at 21, what will Kaprizov command on his next deal? The answer could reshape the Wild's roster for years.
The Flyers, meanwhile, lost Carlsson and got nothing. They will remain in transition as Comcast Spectacor's ownership status remains unclear amid the Comcast-NBCUniversal split.