Minnesota Wild make Kirill Kaprizov the NHL's highest-paid player with eight-year, $136 million extension

"Minnesota Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizov signed the richest contract in NHL history in terms of total money and AAV on Tuesday. The eight-year, $136 million deal will see the 28-year-old Russian tied to the Twin Cities through the 2033-34 season and carries an AAV of $17 million. The agreement comes after weeks of reportedly tense contract negotiations where Kaprizov supposedly turned down an eight-year, $128 million extension and conflicting reports over whether the team asked for his preferred trade destinations in turn."

"According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, the structure of Kaprizov's contract is unique. His salary will be $1 million per year for each of the eight years, and his payment is mostly comprised of bonuses. Kaprisov will receive a $18.1 million signing bonus every July 1 from 2026 to 2029. The bonus then drops to $16 million in 2030, $14.2 million in 2031, and then $12.7 million in 2032 and 2033. The deal also includes a full no-movement clause."

Kirill Kaprizov agreed to an eight-year, $136 million contract with Minnesota that carries a $17 million average annual value and runs through the 2033-34 season. The deal follows reportedly tense negotiations in which Kaprizov declined an eight-year, $128 million offer. The contract surpasses Leon Draisaitl's AAV by $3 million. Salary on the deal is $1 million per season with the bulk paid as structured signing bonuses from 2026 through 2033, and it includes a full no-movement clause. Kaprizov recorded 56 points (25 goals, 31 assists) in 41 games last season after undergoing lower-body surgery.

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