Craig Leipold isn’t sweating as the countdown to training camp ticks away. With Marco Rossi’s new contract already locked in, the Minnesota Wild owner has another huge decision to settle before the season kicks off: getting Kirill Kaprizov signed to a long-term deal.
Fans want answers. Leipold thinks he has them, but until Kaprizov puts pen to paper, the suspense around the Wild’s franchise player won’t stop.
What Did Craig Leipold Say to the Fans on Kirill Kaprizov’s Pending Deal?
Since his debut with the Minnesota Wild in the 2020-21 season, Kaprizov has become the heartbeat of the franchise. Five straight seasons with 50 or more points have made the winger a critical part of the Wild’s offense.
With Kaprizov’s five-year, $45 million contract set to expire after this season, fans are hoping to see him re-signed before he hits unrestricted free agency. The Wild have reportedly put a massive eight-year, $128 million offer on the table, with an average annual value of $16 million.
Even though Kaprizov hasn’t signed yet, Leipold remains confident that the deal will get done. In an interview with The Athletic, Leipold joked, “I’ve got Kirill’s contract in my pocket.” Leipold knows this is the number one thing fans want answered.
“I just feel like we’re not that far off,” he said. “I like to believe when Kirill comes over and gets a sense again for the excitement and the love of the city, I think we’ll be moving forward in a good direction.”
Kaprizov is expected to arrive in the Twin Cities from Russia next week, and a face-to-face meeting with Bill Guerin will be on the agenda. Leipold admitted that while he typically stays out of contract negotiations, he will step in if needed. “We’ll probably, likely, do it that way,” he said.
Money doesn’t seem to be the holdup for Leipold. If the rumored estimates are right, an extension could give Kaprizov the biggest NHL contract ever.
Leipold added, “This will be a huge deal, likely the biggest in the NHL ever. There’s no better human being or better hockey player or better person than Kirill. I think it will be a good conversation that we’ll have with him.
“I’m very anxious and looking forward to that conversation. I think we’ll move quickly after that,” Leipold added. He is also feeling good about Minnesota’s outlook. “I like the roster better this year than last year,” he said.
With training camp starting on September 19, Leipold will be waiting for Kaprizov to arrive next week.
