Earlier this offseason, there were reports that CSKA Moscow was interested in bringing back Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov to the KHL if things didn’t go well in terms of negotiating a new contract with Minnesota. While it was widely viewed as posturing, it appears the threat could be a real one as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports (Twitter link) that CSKA has an agreement in place with the 24-year-old that would be announced on September 1st if an NHL deal can’t be reached by then. He adds that the value of the one-year contract would be in the eight-figure ($USD) range.
It’s worth noting that the KHL threat is the only leverage that Kaprizov has in negotiations. He doesn’t have enough service time to be eligible for an offer sheet nor was he arbitration-eligible. This basically was the only card that his camp can play.
Minnesota’s long-stated intention has been to lock up the Calder Trophy winner to a max-term deal or close to it but that type of term isn’t necessarily ideal for Kaprizov’s camp. Even if the Upper Limit of the salary cap only rises marginally over the next few years, that’s still a bit more money available then than there is now with the potential for more years to be in a cap environment where the escrow owed to owners has been paid off. From his standpoint, then, a short-term contract that takes him to UFA eligibility would be preferable though that clearly wouldn’t work for the Wild.
The end result would appear to be something in the middle as Seravalli notes that a medium-term deal is something that Minnesota is open to working out. Such a contract would buy out a year or two of UFA eligibility while still giving Kaprizov a shot at hitting the open market with a shot at a max-term deal in a financial landscape that projects to be considerably better than it is now.
With more than $19MM in cap room per CapFriendly, Wild GM Bill Guerin can easily afford the substantial raise that is coming Kaprizov’s way and the decision to take Kevin Fiala to arbitration sets up the potential for a cheaper short-term agreement there which would give them even more flexibility heading into next season. Of course, that flexibility will be short-lived with the buyout penalties for Ryan Suter and Zach Parise increasing sharply for 2022-23 through 2024-25.
i don’t see why it was ever thought to be an unrealistic threat. while an RFA can only so much power, MIN cant afford to lose him.
If you thought there was outrage at Darnell Nurse’s new deal, based on “one good year”, Kappy might want to just high-tail it off of the continent, as I’m hoping numerous Wild fans would burn him a new one, if he dared to demand the moon. He was damn good, for sure, and both he and Fiala *shouldn’t* eat up the remaining space, but getting greedy won’t sit well with the fans. As @DarkSide830 stated, MIN can’t afford to lose him, but an eight-figure overpay is unreasonable right now, especially with Suter and Parise’s buyouts eating up what amounts to a respectable roster spot. Overpay Kappy right now? “No Guy!”
I think that’s the Tatt-man on line 1 for me…
24yo & he wants the dough but still have some control. More power to him. A 8 year max term robs him of both down the road.
Puts the Eichel contract into perspective at $10mil per.
I don’t know how I feel about this(not that it really matters.) on one hand it’s like don’t be greedy you get to play in the best league in the world. Then I think 8 figures, pretty much guaranteed to be the best player in the KHL, no escrow and he gets to play at home where his family is…if I’m Kap I’m leaning hard to the KHL.
Good point. $10,000,000 a year without escrow at home is appealing
@backhandinbaptist – That’s also an ever-increasing indictment on the quality of the AHL. Even NHL-fringe guys are apparently turning their noses up at the idea of the AHL and heading for the European tour (Yes, I know about the AHL/ECHL veteran limits). I just wish Scott Howson hadn’t gone to the dope idea of expanded playoffs, which will devolve into the “Participation Trophy Derby” in no time, if they don’t regain their senses.
Kinda reminds me of the Alexander Radulov scenario years ago when he left Nashville and bolted for the KHL Russia then wanted to come back , and got a nice contract again by Dallas,
@G – And, he’s almost sober now! Party Hardy Alex! Razor never gets tired of saying, “Alex likes to celebrate his teammates’ goals as much as his own!” It’s true, too.
He did have to take a one year discounted deal in Montreal to reestablish his value for a multi-year deal first. However, good point, this could play out similarly.
Yeah, Radulov was the comp I was thinking of as well
Let him go back if he is not commited to the team now then guess what he’ll probably be gone in year three of his contact…great skilled player but not worth 7 or more million ..I would give him 3 year deal at 20 million and telling him to prove he is worth more…