Craig Leipold Will Pay Kirill Kaprizov Whatever it Takes… But Money is Not the Problem

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NHL: Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild
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Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild are just days away from the start of the 2024-25 season. The season opener is set for eight days from today. The Wild face off against former head coach Dean Evason and the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Xcel Energy Center.

It’s never too soon to consider contract extensions, especially for a player as valuable as Kirill Kaprizov. He’s already the greatest player in Minnesota Wild history. And at just 27 years old, he still has plenty of his career ahead of him.

With just two years left on his contract, securing a long-term deal for Kirill Kaprizov is a top priority. If it was up them, he would have already put pen to contractual paper. Wild owner Craig Leipold confirmed on Tuesday, in a meeting with collective media members, that he is willing to offer whatever it takes to keep Kaprizov in Minnesota.

But ultimately, the decision rests on whether Kaprizov wants to stay in Minnesota. Clearly, that is not a given. And when it comes to the Russian superstar, money won’t be the deciding factor. What does Kirill want? To win.

Minnesota Wild want to pay Kirill Kaprizov, but does it matter?

The Athletic’s, Michael Russo was one of the media members gathered around the Wild owner, regarding a potential Kirill Kaprizov extension, among a host of other topics. What Leipold revealed was meant as a rally cry to get Wild fans fired up. One thing is for sure, he seems motivated to get a deal done, no matter what it takes.

“So what does he want? He wants to win.” Leipold said. “So we have to prove to not only to him, but to other UFAs that we also want to win. And we’re used to winning. This is the State of Hockey, and we’re going to get back to the winning ways. We’re going to get a perennial playoff team, but it does start with Kirill. He’s going to be the focus of what we’re going to do. We plan to re-sign him. I will tell you nobody will offer more money than us, or longer. So all we have to do is prove to him that we want to win.”

Craig Leipold – The Athletic

Leipold has made it clear he’s all in, emphasizing that re-signing Kirill Kaprizov is the top priority. However, he knows he needs to convince his superstar that the team is serious about winning and building around him. Time will tell if Leipold can actually put the money where his mouth is.

Related: Kirill Kaprizov Wants to Ditch Minnesota Wild for… Chicago Blackhawks?

Leipold also told reporters that one key to keeping Kaprizov in Minnesota is by signing high-profile free agents, which will become much more possible in 2025-26, when the bulk of the Parise/Suter buyout penalties finally fall off the books.

“Next July 1 is going to be like Christmas,” Leipold said. “We’re going to have money available. We’re going to have the resources available to do what we need to do to get back to Wild hockey. And we’re looking forward to that. We look at who could be available next year. You’re going to ask me, who are those players? I won’t tell you.

“But we know who they are, and we don’t know whether they’ll end up signing with their current teams or they become UFAs. But we’ve got a list, and if they’re available, we’re going to go after them. And we feel like we’re going to be able to get one or two really good players to add on to this team.”

Craig Leipold – The Athletic

Leipold mentioned that the team already has free agents in mind for next summer’s offseason, but he kept the names under wraps. While he’s saying the right things to get fans excited, the real challenge will be following through on those promises.

Kirill Kaprizov has quickly cemented his status as a Minnesota Wild legend. With a Calder Trophy, 160 goals, 170 assists, and 330 points in just 278 games. Kaprizov has been nothing short of spectacular. Whatever it takes, Craig needs to ensure Kirill Kaprizov remains in Minnesota for the long term, ideally for his entire career.

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