In the Minnesota Wild's opening night victory, Kirill Kaprizov demonstrated precisely why he's worth every penny of his $17 million annual contract.
There has been no shortage of debate surrounding the Minnesota Wild's decision to commit such a lofty sum to Kaprizov, especially in light of recent deals like Connor McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension with the Edmonton Oilers, or Kyle Connor’s $12 million AAV re-signing with the Winnipeg Jets. Many have argued that the Wild may have overpaid, questioning whether Kaprizov could truly justify the price tag.
Yet, after the Wild’s commanding 2025-26 season opener, which saw them shut out the St.