Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov turns down NHL’s most rewarding offer of all time

NHL left winger and alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League, Kirill Kaprizov, has allegedly turned down one of the most lucrative offers of all time in the history of the hockey league.

The 28-year-old Russian professional reportedly said no to an eight-year, $128 million contract on Tuesday, according to a report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli.

He has declined one of the most lucrative contracts in the sport’s history, which would have made him one of the highest-paid sportspersons in the history of ice hockey. Wild owner Craig Leipold stated last week that the team intends to make Kaprizov the league’s highest-paid player; however, Kaprizov’s reported refusal of the $16 million-per-season deal has raised some eyebrows.

Kirill Kaprizov turns down the most lucrative $128 million contract deal

The Minnesota Wild’s most talented player in hockey, Kirill Kaprizov, has reportedly turned down one of the most rewarding contracts in the sport’s history, which would have made him the highest-paid player in NHL history in both AAV ($16 million) and total dollars. This was reported by Wild’s insider Frank Seravalli on Tuesday. According to insider Frank Seravalli, Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov has turned down an extension offer that would keep him on the books for another eight years.

To announce this news, Seravalli took to his X/Twitter handle and wrote, “Sources say #mnwild superstar Kirill Kaprizov’s camp turned down an extension offer believed to be 8 years, $128 million in a meeting on Tuesday in Minnesota that would have made him the highest-paid player in #NHL history in both AAV ($16 million) and total dollars.”Meanwhile, as per The New York Times, Wild president and general manager Bill Guerin declined to comment on the report.

Asked whether the report, if true, could mean Kaprizov won’t sign an extension or instead wants to negotiate a shorter-term deal, Guerin also would not comment to The Athletic.

What is next for Kirill Kaprizov in future?

As per reports, the NHL has a designated limit where a player’s salary can’t exceed 20% of the team’s salary cap. With this season’s cap at $95.5 million, the Minnesota Wild team can’t offer Kaprizov more than $19.1 million annually. Looking ahead, the league announced in January that the 2026-27 salary cap could rise to $104 million, though that figure isn’t finalized yet. Also read: NHL's New Jersey Devils unveil their roster for the 2025 Prospects Challenge | NHL News - The Times of IndiaIf the salary cap becomes $104 million and Kaprizov remains unsigned, his maximum yearly salary could increase to $20.8 million. Meanwhile, the current highest average annual contract in the league belongs to the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, who signed an eight-year deal worth $112 million, averaging $14 million per year, which was signed nearly a year ago.