Training camp did not even start and we already have some juicy Kirill Kaprizov -trading rumors. Kaprizov reportedly rejected A massive eight years, $ 16 million AAV contract, which has fueled the majority of this discussion. Although the validity of the rumor was initially in the air, it came from a renowned source and the conversation has since shifted from validity to ask how the information was made public. In view of that shift, the rejected contract does indeed seem to be a fact, which means that more rumors of Kirill Kaprizov are fueled. As usual I have thoughts.
1. To begin with, Kaprizov is someone for whom you have a dumper with money. The 28 -year -old wing player has never been a point per game. Last season he set up 25-31-56 in 41 games, which is a pace of 50-62-112. In his last four seasons, his 82 game Point Tempo 108, 92, 105 and 112. That is in line with the production of Artemi Panarin, but six years younger.
With a rising cap and uncertainty with the future of Panarin and the availability of Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, Kaprizov would be the next best option as an elite producer who can wear a line.
In general, a team is best built with centers that wing players wear, but there are a few wing players who can wear lines and Kaprizov is one of them.
2. It is unknown whether the trade rumors of Kirill Kaprizov are legitimate, or whether it is only fed by the rejection of the contract. But let’s run with the trade rumors true, and if the Rangers can actually make something work. Kaprizov has a cap -hit of $ 9 million and the Rangers only have $ 1.5 million in CAP space this season. It is not impossible to make something work, but it would come later in the season, because the Rangers bench more cap space.
Given Kaprizov’s apparent question of more than $ 16 million per season, the Rangers should certainly include another player with a salary in the deal. The salary and the new contract make this a very difficult situation for both teams to navigate if we take the rumors of Kirill Kaprizov at nominal value.
3. The only thing we know for sure is that Minnesota wanted a top-six center in the low season. Mika Zibanejad is the obvious candidate here, because his contract has enough of a cap to free up the space for Kaprizov, but his entire clause without Move makes it very difficult. No matter how you cut it, the rangers have to renounce a large contract in an exchange, plus trade artemi panarin and/or let him run to free up the extra space.
I think it is safe to assume that if the Rangers make a run in Kaprizov in the season, Panarin will be traded to earn back assets to acquire Kaprizov.
4. Commercial value is also very difficult to find out. There are not many teams that Kaprizov want to take on $ 16 million, and even less assets to make it work. He is also a hanging UFA, which considerably lowers its value. For now we have to deal with him as a rental of the trade theadline.
For the Rangers, if we assume that Zibanejad has been admitted to compensate for the salary, I think it is safe to assume that one of Brennan Othmann or Brett Berard is included as a young cost control. Since Othmann has the higher pedigree and commercial value, we keep here at Othmann.
That is Zibanejad, Othmann and the obvious 2026 1st round pick. Under this scenario, Zibanejad returns as a center and has a solid commercial value. There are a number of teams that would cost him to $ 8.5 million, given the rising PET ceiling. This seems in line with the First Mikko Rantan Trade to Carolina last season.
Waiting waiting from his NMC is the Wildcard, and I can’t imagine a situation in which this happens without Zibanejad abandoning his NMC.
5. If the Rangers go to Kaprizov this season and act for Kaprizov, then Artemi Panarin is almost certainly on the move in a separate trade. The trade value of Panarin will be comparable to that of Kaprizov as a rent, but it is a bit more difficult to spit specific returns without mentioning a team.
6. There is also a scenario in which Panarin is included in a Kaprizov trade, although this is much more difficult to find out, because in theory it is a 1: 1 -trade as equally producing wing players who are awaiting UFAs. But I wonder if age can play a factor, even if everything else is the same. Maybe the Rangers add a sweetener such as Matthew Robertson?
7. Despite all the Kirill Kaprizov rumors, I don’t think the Rangers will be in this unless he is the only option. That means that Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel have been signed again and Artemi Panarin will not be part of their future. Chris Drury will certainly kick tires, as he should with a trade rumor, but I just don’t see this happening unless several other things happen.
I also don’t think Kaprizov is being traded, but that is a completely different discussion for another day.
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