Wild's Kirill Kaprizov Turns Down 8 Years / $128 Mil

[STL fan in MN]

Wowzers. Hard to turn that down.

Wonder if he actually wants more or if he is just planning to slow play it because he ultimately doesn’t want to hitch the rest of his career to the Mild.

He might also be waiting for McDavid to reset the market, idk.

my initial thought is that he's waiting on McDavid because he then gets all the leverage. They are both in the same situation, and if McDavid bails and signs a high AAV somewhere else, he gets to use that for the Mild and other suitors. If McDavid stays and signs a high AAV he get's to use that information as well. He has the chance of burning that bridge tho if he does actually like Minnesota.

The only other options are that he wants a shorter contract for the next window in 4 years to go make an even bigger splash. The interesting part is if he and McDavid were to actually hit the open market (doubt they would and would probably be traded because the risk is so great) just to get that same contract he has to get to 18.2m AAV.

Yep, wouldn’t be surprised if he wants a shorter term deal. Matthews and Bouchard both signed 4 year deals. If you believe in your abilities and can clearly see the Cap will just keep going up, why not do a shorter term deal and then do it all over again 4 or so years from now? It’s a risk (injuries) but the reward could be huge too.

[TheJackBurton]

The one thing teams like the Rangers and LA offer that 90% of the league can't is marketing dollars.

He could sign a 13 million dollar deal with the Rangers, and pay a lot more in taxes but then get 7-8 million a year in marketing deals that more than makes up for it.

I'm depressed today however if I'm a Wild fan. That's your premier player and without him you have very little to no existing offense.

[netboy65]

This is why I like the way the Blues do business. Did they gamble on Kyrou? Sure. Did they give Buchy maybe a bit too much. Yep. But they got really good players on good contracts. The Blues operate under a model that is appropriate for them. I don't know why this is happening to the Mild, as it's a good hockey market. But it's not a Boston or Toronto or the Rags etc etc. If they can't sign him with that offer, that is unlucky. It's why the Hurricanes have such a nice operation going. But for whatever reason you can't get a guy like Rantanen to want to extend there even when you are offering the big bucks. You have to do business that works in your market.

I always found it crazy that people would complain about the deals Kyrou or Thomas got. Compared to what’s coming down the road for Kaprisov or McJesus or what guys like Matthews got, 8M is peanuts.

[Cahokanut]

I think this ends up being good for Minny. This can't be the money and if that's the case this is very good for Minny

If I'm them I'm on the phone this very minute looking to move on. The sooner he is out. The sooner the team gets it together.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

I'm taking this that he definitely wants out of minny. I could be wrong.

[callitwhatyouwant]

This is why I like the way the Blues do business. Did they gamble on Kyrou? Sure. Did they give Buchy maybe a bit too much. Yep. But they got really good players on good contracts. The Blues operate under a model that is appropriate for them. I don't know why this is happening to the Mild, as it's a good hockey market. But it's not a Boston or Toronto or the Rags etc etc. If they can't sign him with that offer, that is unlucky. It's why the Hurricanes have such a nice operation going. But for whatever reason you can't get a guy like Rantanen to want to extend there even when you are offering the big bucks. You have to do business that works in your market.

I always found it crazy that people would complain about the deals Kyrou or Thomas got. Compared to what’s coming down the road for Kaprisov or McJesus or what guys like Matthews got, 8M is peanuts.

At the time it was because Thomas had showed consistent growth forward. Kyrou had the 1 year. There were also guys like Barbs/ROR who were playing that last year who were hoping to get contract extensions. Barbs outplayed where the Blues could afford what he does, and ROR was at the end of a career and the team took a bad turn. There's no doubt that the locker room went sour, most likely because of Tarasenko being unhappy that a young guy got the money he thought he was owed. The others recognized it was business. Tarasenko always overvalued himself.

Anyways, Kyrous contract as of today is the least of the going rate for that. If he puts up that same production for 2 more years, thats a 10m player. He's probably right at what he deserves today with upside still to be had.

[blues2112]

Maybe this "report" is wrong.

[Sweetred95ta]

He wants out of Minnesota, and they know it. They offered him an outrageous contract (he's (bleep) good, but not $16 million good) and made sure it got leaked so he looks like a fool when he signs somewhere else for less. I don't think it's much of a secret that it's hard to win a Stanley Cup with max salary players on your team. Plus, he's already 28. This deal would start when he was 29 and carry him into 37.

[STL fan in MN]

Maybe this "report" is wrong.

Michael Russo is also reporting it. It’s legit.

[dhsux]

Wowzers. Hard to turn that down.

Wonder if he actually wants more or if he is just planning to slow play it because he ultimately doesn’t want to hitch the rest of his career to the Mild.

He might also be waiting for McDavid to reset the market, idk.

my initial thought is that he's waiting on McDavid because he then gets all the leverage. They are both in the same situation, and if McDavid bails and signs a high AAV somewhere else, he gets to use that for the Mild and other suitors. If McDavid stays and signs a high AAV he get's to use that information as well. He has the chance of burning that bridge tho if he does actually like Minnesota.

The only other options are that he wants a shorter contract for the next window in 4 years to go make an even bigger splash. The interesting part is if he and McDavid were to actually hit the open market (doubt they would and would probably be traded because the risk is so great) just to get that same contract he has to get to 18.2m AAV.

While I think shorter contract may be an option, I think this is more about location/culture than being the highest paid player or even winning. It seems like Russian players seem to gravitate to other Russians more than other hockey nationalities. New York has a huge Russian population, and the east coast offers several direct flights home.

Maybe he compromises on a shorter deal to stay in the upper Midwest, but my guess is he only entertains full term offers from NYR, and maybe WSH (Ovi heir), or PHI.

I'm sure he can fly private, right?

He ran them through the ringer on the last contract and I thought he was gonna walk on them then.

It's tactics or it's he wants out...I choose the latter. If it is, who else is going to pay him that? He may end up signing for less elsewhere, but he won't be in Minny any more and man is that going to hurt the Wild.

[Backesdraft]

Eff the Wild, that’s what I say. I hope KK is gone from our division. This can only be good for the Blues.

[sdaltons]

Eff the Wild, that’s what I say. I hope KK is gone from our division. This can only be good for the Blues.

Yep seems like good news for us. Unless he signs with Chicago or something.

[aslord]

Every time he steps on the ice now it will be a question if this is the day he gets an injury that derails the potential of that massive contract. He may be a great player, but he's one stupid hit away from having his knees buckled and losing everything. Not a gamble I would take.

[ManitobaBlues]

This is why I like the way the Blues do business. Did they gamble on Kyrou? Sure. Did they give Buchy maybe a bit too much. Yep. But they got really good players on good contracts. The Blues operate under a model that is appropriate for them. I don't know why this is happening to the Mild, as it's a good hockey market. But it's not a Boston or Toronto or the Rags etc etc. If they can't sign him with that offer, that is unlucky. It's why the Hurricanes have such a nice operation going. But for whatever reason you can't get a guy like Rantanen to want to extend there even when you are offering the big bucks. You have to do business that works in your market.

I always found it crazy that people would complain about the deals Kyrou or Thomas got. Compared to what’s coming down the road for Kaprisov or McJesus or what guys like Matthews got, 8M is peanuts.

Kyrou and Thomas are nowhere near McDavid, Matthews, and Kaprisov. Kyrou and Thomas will never get a contract like them 3 will.

[STL fan in MN]

This is why I like the way the Blues do business. Did they gamble on Kyrou? Sure. Did they give Buchy maybe a bit too much. Yep. But they got really good players on good contracts. The Blues operate under a model that is appropriate for them. I don't know why this is happening to the Mild, as it's a good hockey market. But it's not a Boston or Toronto or the Rags etc etc. If they can't sign him with that offer, that is unlucky. It's why the Hurricanes have such a nice operation going. But for whatever reason you can't get a guy like Rantanen to want to extend there even when you are offering the big bucks. You have to do business that works in your market.

I always found it crazy that people would complain about the deals Kyrou or Thomas got. Compared to what’s coming down the road for Kaprisov or McJesus or what guys like Matthews got, 8M is peanuts.

Kyrou and Thomas are nowhere near McDavid, Matthews, and Kaprisov. Kyrou and Thomas will never get a contract like them 3 will.

They might not be but I’d definitely take the 2 of them combined at $16M over Kaprisov at $16M.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

I bet Bill Guerin wants to whoop his you know what.