Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild are "not that far off" on a new contract, owner Craig Leipold said Wednesday.

"I kind of think we're there," Leipold told The Athletic . "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."

The 28-year-old forward can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, when the five-year, $45 million contract ($9 million average annual value) he signed on Sept. 21, 2021, ends. Kaprizov has been eligible to sign an eight-year contract with Minnesota since July 1, when general manager Bill Guerin said re-signing Kaprizov was "priority No. 1."

If Kaprizov signs after July 1, 2026, he can only get a seven-year deal.

Kaprizov led t

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