Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold is prepared to give Kirill Kaprizov a record NHL deal, with the contract potentially worth $15 million annually.
The Wild's leading scorer since joining the team in 2020-21, Kaprizov can become a NHL free agent next July 1.
What's at stake for Kirill Kaprizov?
The 28-year-old Russian player has averaged more than a point a game, scoring 185 goals and 201 assists in 319 games.
Kaprizov's current deal is $9 million a season for five years, the biggest annual payout in Wild history.
Why it matters for the Minnesota Wild
Leipold has pledged to offer Kaprizov a longer and more lucrative contract than any other team, with the deal likely to be the biggest in NHL history.
The Wild have exclusive rights to negotiate with Kaprizov until July 1, and Leipold is confident that a face-to-face meeting will help seal the deal.
Kaprizov has been spending time in his native Russia, but is set to return to Minnesota for the start of training camp.
What comes next for Kirill Kaprizov?
The Wild did not make a big splash in the free agent market, but Leipold is focused on keeping Kaprizov, who finished second on the team with 25 regular-season goals last season.
Leipold has also made a pitch for $100 million from the State of Minnesota for improvements to the 25-year-old arena.
The Wild owner is committed to keeping the team in the family, with his son working for the team.
Kaprizov's agent, Paul Theofanous, has been in communication with Wild general manager Bill Guerin, and a deal is expected to be made soon.
The Minnesota Wild are eager to keep Kaprizov, who has been an integral part of the team since joining in 2020-21.