RUSSIAN HOCKEY PLAYER TURNS DOWN EIGHT-YEAR $128 MILLION CONTRACT OFFER

Shock as hockey player Kirill Kaprizov rejects biggest contract offer in NHL history

 

By Jake Nisse 

 

Daily Mail

Sep 11, 2025 

 

Kirill Kaprizov has reportedly rejected the largest contract offer in NHL history

 

Hockey player Kirill Kaprizov has stunned fans after reportedly rejecting the largest contract offer in NHL history.

Kaprizov, a 28-year-old forward for the Minnesota Wild, is a three-time All-Star with 386 points in 319 career games.

And his franchise offered him an eight-year, $128million extension, according to reporter Frank Seravalli - an amount that would have made the NHL's highest-paid player ever by average annual value and total money.

But the Russian's representation is said to have turned down the hefty offer during a meeting with the team on Tuesday - which hockey fans couldn't believe.

'This is comical. What does he expect from other teams?' one said on X.

'Bro!! Why would he turn that down, how much does he think he deserves?,' a second asked.

 

The current record for the NHL's richest deal is the 13-year, $124million pact signed by Alex Ovechkin in 2008

 

'This is disrespectful. I would trade him,' a third said.

And a fourth claimed: 'He doesn't want to stay in Min. That's the only reason you turn this down.' 

The current record for the NHL's richest deal is the 13-year, $124million pact that Alex Ovechkin signed with the Washington Capitals in 2008.

While Kaprizov has established himself as one of the league's best forwards since debuting for the Wild in 2020, the franchise hasn't been able to have much postseason success in that time.

The Wild have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, but have failed to advance past the first round on any of those occasions.

 

Wild's Kirill Kaprizov is seen scoring one of his two goals that helped Minnesota beat the visiting Canadiens 4-1 on November 1, 2022

 

Kaprizov is currently in the last year of a five-year, $45million deal.

However, Wild owner Craig Leipold recently expressed optimism that his franchise could strike a deal with their star player. 

'I just feel like we're not that far off,' Leipold told The Athletic last week. 

'I kind of think we're there. I like to believe when Kirill comes over and gets a sense again for the excitement and the love of the city, I think we'll be moving forward in a good direction.'

With or without a new contract for Kaprizov, Minnesota will begin their season at the St. Louis Blues on October 9.