Usually instances, a delayed flight causes frustration and missed appointments. Often, it results in the most important deal in NHL historical past. Again in 2014, scouts from the Minnesota Wild have been in Russia to review and meet with gamers they may doubtlessly later draft. Residual smog from the 2014 California wildfires delayed their flight again to the U.S., according to owner Craig Leipold. Through the delay, they discovered about Kirill Kaprizov, a winger enjoying for the Russian group Metallurg Novokuznetsk.
A yr later, the Wild chosen Kaprizov within the fifth spherical (one hundred and thirty fifth decide general) of the 2015 NHL entry draft. Now, he is simply signed the most important contract the NHL has ever seen.
Kaprizov and the Wild agreed to an eight-year deal value $136 million. It is the most important deal when it comes to general wage, topping the $124 million that Alexander Ovechkin signed with the Washington Capitals in 2008. At $17 million per season, it is also the most important deal when it comes to common annual worth, edging out the $14 million common annual worth of Leon Draisaitl’s contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
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Kaprizov was solely 18 years outdated when the Wild chosen him. He did not come to the NHL till the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season, which formally started in January 2021. After setting franchise information with 27 objectives and 51 factors, Kaprizov received the Calder Memorial Trophy his rookie yr, which works to essentially the most distinctive first-year participant within the league.
He is continued racking up accomplishments ever since. He already holds single-season franchise information in factors (108) and objectives (47) and has made three All-Star video games. He is additionally the one participant in Wild historical past to place up at the very least 40 objectives in a number of seasons.
As is the case with different sports activities, NHL stars can command sizable salaries. For context, the earlier richest contracts the Wild had given out got here on July 4, 2012, when the group signed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to offers value $98 million. These contracts have been over 13 years, although, making them lower than half the typical annual worth that Kaprizov simply signed for.
Now, Kaprizov will stay in Minnesota for some time. His contract would not finish till the 2033-34 season. Within the meantime, the Wild hope he can flip the franchise’s fortunes round. The group hasn’t received a playoff sequence prior to now 10 seasons. And that is a irritating delay.
