It’s time for some more NHL rumours. We’re just over a week away from the start of the 2025-26 NHL regular season. However, there are always discussions going on about the future. We know that there are a number of prime free agents that could hit the market if not signed by July 1. General managers are working hard to prevent this from taking place. However, speculation will run rampant until those deals get signed.
We’ve talked a number of times about where talks are going between the Minnesota Wild and superstar Kirill Kaprizov. This edition of NHL rumours takes a look at recent developments.
All NHL rumours come from the source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Latest on Kirill Kaprizov and Talks Between Him and the Minnesota Wild
Rumour: We have plenty of unpack in this latest recap of what’s going on between the Wild and the Russian superstar.
Analysis: Minnesota owner Craig Leipold told the media that he’s confident that general manager Bill Guerin will get a deal done. Leipold said that he’ll remain patient in getting a contract done. The Wild owner has previously said that money is no object when it comes to a contract. Leipold mentioned all the new money with the rising cap is complicating things.
However, there are plenty of unknowns going on with contract talks. Our most-recent update said that Kaprizov rejected an eight-year deal that had a $16 million average cap hit. This was according Frank Seravalli, but both sides quickly denied the report.
However, there have been other things that the Wild may have to worry about. According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the Wild said they’re worried about possible tampering. Russo added that they’ll try to deal with it if that does occur. The insider talked about this on The Sheet podcast.
Russo also talked about one team in particular that could make a run at Kaprizov. He noted that a number of teams will try to make a play for the Russian, but keep an eye on the Carolina Hurricanes as a potential suitor for the high-flying forward.
What It Means
Russo also added that the Wild aren’t going to negotiate against themselves. Guerin won’t outbid himself and will try to make sure the cap number isn’t too massive. Minnesota does need to re-sign Kaprizov, but it also needs to address other parts of its roster.
Fellow Athletic writer Joe Smith joined Russo on a recent article saying that teams have reached out about a possible trade. However, Guerin hasn’t reached the point where he has to deal the star player. Seravalli also mentioned on B/R Open Ice that the Wild haven’t given an indication that they are going to trade Kaprizov.
Let’s also add Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman to the mix with his recent appearance on the FAN Hockey Show. Friedman also thinks that a trade is very unlikely to happen. He thinks that the Wild will do all they can to make a deal happen and “wants to hit a home run.”
Things move fast when it comes to contract talks. However, it seems we could be playing the waiting game until a deal is signed.
Main photo by: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
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