As Kirill Kaprizov enters the final year of his contract, the hockey world has been waiting for news of a contract extension with the Minnesota Wild to drop -- but Kaprizov has reportedly turned down an offer that would have broken monetary records in the NHL.
Right now, the highest-paid player in the league is Leon Draisaitl, who earns $14 million annually, whereas the largest contract in history was Alex Ovechkin's 13-year, $124 million deal signed back in 2008. Kaprizov's potential deal would have surpassed both of those numbers.
TSN's Frank Seravalli stated that the deal proposed by Wild GM Bill Guerin had a length of eight years and totalled $126 million for an AAV of $16 million per season. However, Guerin has since made some cryptic comments about the validity of the reports, saying "I don’t know where it came from" and adding "I still think we’re in a really positive place with Kirill."
Kaprizov himself has previously announced his desire to stay in Minnesota, but emphasized that "everyone wants to win -- me, too."
It's still unclear what exactly Kaprizov didn't like about the proposal -- he could be searching for a short-term contract as opposed to the maximum length deal that Guerin's camp allegedly offered, or he could be looking for a higher-value contract. Either way, Kaprizov's denial of what could have been the largest NHL contract of all time has major implications for other superstars.
How Kaprizov could affect Connor McDavid's next contract
Similar to Kaprizov, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is also about to commence the final year on his current deal. There has already been speculation about what the next contract could look like, or alternatively, whether he decides to hit the free agent market in 2026 -- potentially alongside Kaprizov, if neither one re-signs with their current teams.
But with Kaprizov supposedly turning down $16 million annually, it calls into question the number attached to McDavid's next contract. The Athletic speculates that he could be the first NHLer to ever reach a $20 million AAV in the next couple of seasons, especially if he chooses to re-sign with the Oilers in the short-term and return to free agency in the not-too-distant future.
It's important to note that Kaprizov had his most recent season shortened by injury, but managed to score 25 goals and 56 points in 41 games. That total would put him on pace for 50 goals and 112 points in a full 82-game season, which would be career highs for the 28-year-old. McDavid, meanwhile, tallied 100 points for the fifth straight season and the eighth time in his career, doing so in just 67 games played. The five-time Art Ross winner would undoubtedly command a larger contract than Kaprizov no matter where he signs.
As the salary cap continues to rise year after year, the possibility of Kaprizov driving McDavid's value upward becomes even more realistic. Back when Ovechkin signed the historic contract in 2008, he was earning 17 percent of the Washington Capitals' total salary cap -- if McDavid were to sign at a similar percentage next summer, it would put him above $17.5 million as reported by The Athletic.
There are also other big-ticket names on the market for the next group of free agents, one of those being Jack Eichel. He is rumored to be in the hunt for at least $15 million on his next deal after a career-best outing featuring 28 goals and 94 points this past season.
Regardless of when or where Kaprizov eventually signs, his decision to leave record-breaking money on the table could impact the salaries of other NHLers in a downright historic way.