If he has concerns about keeping the most dynamic player in 25 years of Minnesota Wild history, team owner Craig Leipold didn’t show them. He was practically beaming as he met with reporters at Grand Casino Arena last week shortly after the home rink’s new name and logo were unveiled.

“OK, I’ve got Kirill’s contract in my pocket here,” Leipold joked.

Kaprizov’s next contract, whether it’s with the Wild or elsewhere, will be anything but a joke.

The Wild’s leading scorer since he joined the team out of Russia’s KHL in 2020-21, Kaprizov can become a NHL free agent next July 1. Until then, the Wild have exclusive rights to negotiate with him. After pledging last September that no team would offer Kaprizov a longer or more lucrative contract , Leipold doubled down on what the Wild are p

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