An update on the contract negotiations of Kirill Kaprizov with the wild, and the last about the Penguins, Canadiens and Maple Leafs in the NHL rumor mill of today.
Sportsnet: During the “32 thoughts: the podcast” on Monday, Elliote Friedman said he doesn’t think Kirill Kaprizov Has the Minnesota Wild He would consider a contract number acceptable.
Last week, the 28-year-old winger rejected a contract proposal of eight years, $ 128 million of the Wild, with an average annual value of $ 16 million.
Minnesota wanted winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL images).
Friedman said there is a feeling that there is “no magical number” for Kaprizov. He pointed to the comments from wild owner Craig Leipold last fall, where he said that no other team could pay the winger the kind of years and salary that they could.
That is what Friedman is wondering if the Kaprizov camp is waiting to see how far they can push this, and how comfortable it will be wild with his last song. Although some may think that Kaprizov is not a player of $ 17 million or $ 18 million, he could be worth the game so much because of how valuable he is for the organization.
The Spector’s comment: Leipold’s public comments may have disadvantaged his club in negotiations with the representatives of Kaprizov. Given the value of the winger for the wild, they may have taken this position, even if Leipold had said nothing.
Kaprizov is the most exciting player in wild history. He set the franchise records of one season for goals (47), assists (61) and points (108) in 2021-22 and had 46 goals and 96 points in 2023-24. The game breaker winger is crucial for their efforts to become a Stanley Cup participant within five years.
Signing Kaprizov for an eight -year contract with an AAV between $ 17 million and $ 18 million is expensive, and the deal cannot well agree if injuries and age catch up on him in the last half of the deal. However, if De Wild was willing to pay him $ 16 million, they should be willing to come another million or two, especially with the salary limit that would be expected to rise considerably.
If De Wild is not willing to do that, the exchange of Kaprizov can leave at the Trade Deadline or leave him as a free agent in July, be disastrous for a franchise that only won four Playoff rounds in 24 years. It sends the wrong message to their fans and creates the perception that Minnesota, the “State of Hockey”, is not a desirable location for the best players of the competition.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Matt Vensel wondered how long longer Rickard Rakell And Bryan Rest Stay with the penguins.
Both attackers were signed until 2027-28, but during the low season they were the topics of frequent trade speculation. It is assumed that Penguins managing director Kyle Dubas has established a high asking price for both, which would explain why they have not yet moved.
Vensel expects that one or both can be moved at a certain point between now and the Trade Deadline of March 2026, or at a certain point on the road.
Spector’s note: Dubas is not just going to move peace and rakell to make an exchange. He hopes to get the best possible return, which means a pick in the first round and a top perspective or a young NHL-ready player. With both players under contract after this season, he can afford to be patient.
Athletics: Arpon Basu reports Montreal Canadiens The management is happy with the progress of the club, especially with the Roosterkern. However, they know that more work must be done.
They want to surround that young core with the right complementary pieces. GM Kent Hughes has not paid too much to get a specific player who is important for the future of the team. Asked if the priority was a young player or a veteran in the thirty, Hughes said that he would answer that question by the mid -season.
Basu believes that the Canadiens will concentrate at the start of this season to see which teams will start a slow start and start with retailer attackers in an attempt to improve their chances to win the 2026 lottery.
Note of the Spector: finding a reliable second -line center remains the priority of the Canadiens. They will probably start the season to watch internally, with Kirby roof Fulfill that role when he returns from seasonal knee operation. However, they will keep their focus on the trade market.
Toronto Sun: Lance Hornby reported that TSN’s Darren Dreger said he would not be surprised if the Maple Leafs tried to sign Dillon Dube.
The 27-year-old winger was one of the five former Hockey Canada players who were acquitted last month of charges for sexual violence. Duube played for Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving during their days with the Calgary Flames.
Dreger Feelde Duube could help the Leafs as a possible top six forwards. Hornby, however, believes that the club would weigh that with the recoil they can face from fans and experts. He doubted that Dube would release one of the current Top-Six attackers after a year and a half from the NHL.
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