The Minnesota Wild have one of their young RFA stars back in the fold, but the other remains unsigned as the days before the 2021-22 season continue to slip away.
But if Wild general manager Bill Guerin is concerned by the state of negotiations with their leading scorer last season, Kirill Kaprizov, or the threat of him returning to the KHL — after a reported one-year offer worth at least $10 million from CSKA Moscow — he wasn't showing it Monday.
“It’s not my decision. It doesn’t bother me at all," Guerin told reporters after avoiding arbitration and inking Kevin Fiala to a one-year, $5.1-million contract earlier Monday.
Per the Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, an agreement will kick in with CSKA Moscow if a new deal doesn't materialize between the Calder Trophy winner and the Wild by Sept. 1.
The Athletic's Michael Russo reports the Wild have offered the 24-year-old Russian seven- and eight-year deals in the $9-million-per-year range as talks continue with progress being made toward an agreement.
Kaprizov has rejected those offers, per Russo, with the Wild pivoting to mid-range deals lasting four, five or six years.
"I think things are going well enough. We still have lots of time, there’s no rush or panic. I’m in constant communication with Kirill’s agent. We continue to move forward," said Guerin.
According to Russo, the Wild have more than $14 million in cap space remaining to work with this off-season.
Kaprizov, a 10.2(c) restricted free agent, is safe from being snagged by another NHL club via an offer sheet.
The super-skilled forward burst onto the scene in 2020-21, scoring at nearly a point-per-game clip — 27 goals and 51 points through 55 games — earning rookie of the year honours and shattering the franchise's records for most points and goals by a freshman.
