It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. The 2024-25 season has arrived with the NHL Global Series games in Czechia with the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. However, the rumour mill keeps churning. The focus on the ice is on this season, but general managers are already thinking down the road. There are a number of contracts coming up in the next couple of off-season. Players can sign contract extensions on July 1, 2025 for deals that run out for 2025-26. This edition of NHL rumours looks at the Minnesota Wild are already thinking about a deal for one of their stars.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Minnesota Wild Make Declaration on Russian Star’s Next Deal
Rumour: The Athletic’s Michael Russo talked to Wild owner Craig Leipold about the next contract for Kirill Kaprizov. Minnesota’s owner stated that Kaprizov would get a large contract.
Analysis: The Wild have been in a bit of cap hell with the twin buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Minnesota is in the second and final year of having over $14.7 million in dead cap space. Wild GM Bill Guerin has tried to make it work, but it’s hard when money is so tight.
However, that dead money reduces to around $1.7 million starting next off-season. This frees up a ton of space and the Wild are going to try to weaponize it. There’s already money committed to defenceman Brock Faber, but the Wild will have more cap space coming for other reasons.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is in the final year of his deal and contracts like Marcus Johansson will be coming off the books. This will also give more room for Guerin to take care of his star player.
A Blank Cheque?
This new-found cap space will allow Leipold and Guerin to do some business. “Next July 1 is going to be like Christmas,” said Leipold to Russo. Most of the money likely will go to Kaprizov. However, he won’t get a blank cheque that some think he will get.
There are a number of Wild players that need to get deals done when July 2025 rolls around. Marco Rossi is a restricted free agent and will likely get a raise. Minnesota will also likely give highly-touted draft choice Danila Yurov a new contract.
Guerin will able to use that $20 million to take care of some deals and shore up the lineup. One can understand the American GM’s frustration in being handcuffed by all that dead money.
Throwing Down the Gauntlet
Leipold mentioned to Russo that nobody will offer more money than us, or longer.” It seems that Kaprizov will likely get the maximum length deal of eight years. Minnesota’s owner has thrown down the gauntlet and will be very aggressive in signing the 27-year-old to a new contract.
The Wild also may be a player in the free agent market with a number of names possibly out there. Burnsville, Minn. native Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks may hit the market at his home state team may come calling.
Minnesota won’t be shopping in the bargain bin this off-season. However, the franchise seems to have their main priority in re-signing Kaprizov.
