Overview
- Kirill Kaprizov agreed to an eight-year, $136 million extension at a $17 million AAV, setting new NHL highs for both total value and average annual value.
- Starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson signed a five-year, $34 million deal at a $6.8 million AAV that begins in 2026–27, with a full no‑movement clause for two years and a partial no‑trade clause thereafter.
- Gustavsson, 27, seized the No. 1 role last season with a 31-19-6 record, 2.56 GAA and .914 save percentage, replacing the retired Marc‑Andre Fleury, with Jesper Wallstedt expected to back up.
- With Kaprizov and Gustavsson under contract, the Wild join Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek and Brock Faber as a largely under‑30 core signed to multiyear deals.
- Analysts say Kaprizov’s $17 million AAV raises valuation across the winger market, and insider reporting has linked Minnesota as a potential suitor for pending UFA Artemi Panarin, characterized as speculation at this stage.