Minnesota Wild entered a critical offseason with financial flexibility and a franchise player close to the final year of the contract.
Wild Forward Kirill Kaprizov, 28, is eligible for an eight-year extension starting July 1, when he will start his final season under a contract.
General Manager Bill Guerin made it clear in a post-season media supply Tuesday that the franchise’s top priority is to keep him in Minnesota for a long time.
"My expectation is to get him signed. That's it," Green said. "I want to do it as soon as possible. Obviously, everyone knows how important Kirill is to the team, the organization and the market."
“He is a star player.
watch: #mnwild GM Bill Guerin said today that he wants to sign star Kirill Kaprizov for a long-term deal. It may happen as early as July 1.
- Fox 9 (@fox9) May 6, 2025
"My expectation is to get him to sign. He is a star player, this is number 1." https://t.co/tez60ekb2jpic.twitter.com/96qcc9thiiq
Guerin reiterated that the wilderness is the only club that can provide Kaprizov with a full eight years of reviews of owner Craig Leipold last October.
"No one will provide more money than we do," Leipold said.
“No one can give him more than we can,” Green said. “I just said I’m very confident that we will reach an agreement with Kirill. I think he really likes this market and this team.
Kaprizov responded to similar views when he spoke to the media during his weekend exit interview this season.
"This is my agent (General Manager Bill Jilin) job, but we'll see," Kaprizov said. "I love everything here. But (it) should be good. It's easy because now I speak a little better in English. It's easy to talk to the boys. I'm getting more comfortable every year. More and more every year. It's like my home, the second home."
Although the injured 2024-25 season limited his 41 games, Kaprizov still scored 56 points, including 25 goals from the Nets.
The wild drafted Kaprizov with the No. 135 draft pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, and since joining the league, the Russian winger has scored 386 points in 319 games.
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