Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov is in the final year of his current contract and eligible for an extension. Rumors have been all over the place with Kaprizov reportedly turning down a contract for $128 million, making him the highest paid player in the league. Then rumors of the Wild exploring trade scenarios surfaced. Wild GM Bill Guerin denied the contract offer and rejection. The rumors have continued to swirl, with many in the media speculating on which NHL teams could land the star player.
What in the world is going on with Kirill Kaprizov’s contract situation?! pic.twitter.com/kt1xVnulf5
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) September 17, 2025
Why the Avalanche should not try to acquire Kaprizov
With the rumors running rampant, the salary cap changes, and the Martin Necas uncertainty, you could make an argument that the Avs could make a run at Kirill Kaprizov. However, I think that GM Chris McFarland and the Avalanche should avoid the situation altogether.
GM Chris McFarland would have to seriously shake up the roster to make even the reportedly turned-down contract value work with the Avs' current cap situation. The Avalanche have to pay star defenseman Cale Makar next offseason when he's eligible for his extension. They have the rest of the core locked up through 2030 or 2031, with only Martin Necas's contract situation as a big uncertainty. That would mean that more than just Necas would have to be moved to make room for Kaprizov's huge cap hit.
What the Avs should do instead
Nathan MacKinnon has one of the most team-friendly deals in the NHL. If Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin can put together solid full season numbers this year, their contracts will look great as well. The Avalanche should sign Martin Necas and continue to surround their core with the depth it takes to win in the playoffs.
Locking up Necas should be first priority of course, but even signing him to more than the rumored $10 million would be a better move than attempting to sign Kaprizov at more than $16 million AAV. That extra cap space for McFarland to build more depth into the team or extend other players like Artturi Lehkonen, Samuel Girard, or Jack Drury, who all could hit free agency within the next two years. With the way the salary cap is rising and the new collective bargaining agreement, the contract market is going to be evolving over the next few years.
Shooting for the fences on Kaprizov now is just not a good move for Colorado as it would severely hamper the next few years. It would likely take moving out another core player and/or moving multiple pieces. The Avalanche don't have a strong prospect system. With little to fill from the team's system, moving out all of these pieces just for one guy is a tough move to make. In addition, you can expect salary increases for quality third and fourth line players as the cap goes up.
The Avalanche should focus on Martin Necas and ignore the chatter about Kaprizov. It doesn't make sense for the Avs in either the short term or the long term. While there's no doubt that Kaprizov is one of the most skilled players in the league, his cost would be a step backwards for the future of this team.