Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov turns down richest contract in NHL history

Kirill Kaprizov wants something more — even if no one is entirely sure what that means.

The Wild forward’s camp reportedly turned down an eight-year, $128 million contract extension from Minnesota, a deal that would be the richest in NHL history in both total money and average annual value at $16 million.

It would have surpassed Kaprizov’s countryman Alex Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124 million deal signed in 2008.

The 28-year-old is set to enter Wild training camp this month in the final year of a five-year, $45 million deal.

“I just feel like we’re not that far off,” owner Craig 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.”

If the historic contract wasn’t enough for the Russian sniper, what would be? There have been few public indications of what Kaprizov could be looking for in a deal.

“We’ll see. I love everything here. It should be all good,” he said in May. “It’s always, every time, it’s about winning. Everyone wants to win. Me, too.”

A three-time 40-goal scorer in his five-year NHL career, the 2015 fifth-round pick would fetch a high price in any market, trade or free agent.

He finished second on the team with 25 goals and third with 56 points despite playing just 41 games in an injury-marred campaign.

In 319 career games, he’s posted 185 goals and 386 points, winning the Calder Trophy as top rookie in 2020-21.

The Wild open the season in St. Louis on Oct. 9.