00:00Kirill Kaprizov shatters record for biggest contract in NHL history after making Wild Cave to his demands.
00:08It appeared Kirill Kaprizov and the Wild were at an impasse after the forward turned down what would have been a record-breaking deal worth $128 million.
00:18However, he managed to set a new mark to beat while turning the market for NHL forwards on its head with the biggest contract in the history of the league.
00:26Most NHL players aren't in financial trouble, yet they rank lowest in pay among North America's Big Four leagues.
00:33In the 2024-25 season, the NHL's average salary was approximately $3.6 million.
00:41In contrast, NBA players topped the charts with $11.9 million, while MLB players earned $5 million for the first time in 2025, a figure lower than the NFL's due to roster size.
00:53You don't have to worry about checking your bank account balance if you're an NHL superstar.
00:58Yet, NHL contracts historically paled against those of other sports.
01:03Alexander Ovechkin held the NHL's largest $124 million contract.
01:08Kirill Kaprizov will end up going down as one of the biggest steals in NHL history.
01:13In 2014, Minnesota Wild Scouts discovered him after a flight delay led them to a KHL game where he impressed them.
01:21Subsequently, they drafted him 135th overall in the fifth round of the 2015 draft.
01:27He didn't end up making his debut for Minnesota until 2021, but he quickly emerged as a rising star who secured the Calder Trophy for his play during his rookie year.
01:36He was named to the All-Star game three times and set franchise records for goals, assists, and points.
01:43Kaprizov was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and the Wild were determined to sign him before he hit the market.
01:50He rejected a $128 million offer, which turned out well as he agreed to the richest contract in NHL history.
01:58An eight-year, $136 million deal with a $17 million AAV.
02:03The 28-year-old Russian sat out for the second half of the season last year with a lower body injury before returning in time for the playoffs.
02:11But the Wild aren't overly concerned about his durability.
02:15A rising NHL salary cap suggests even larger contracts soon.
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