MN Wild: Kirill Kaprizov Return Timeline and Possible Salary Revealed

The Minnesota Wild offseason continues to tick by, as the team awaits the start of training camp on September 18. Many players stuck around for the summer, others have already arrived back.

One very important piece that is still missing from the 2025 puzzle, however, is by far the most important one. Kirill Kaprizov has spent most of the last couple months overseas, in Russia, spending time with family and friends back in his home country.

While the 28-year-old superstar has been training and resting up for what he hopes will be the best year of his young career so far, he’s also in line for a new contract worth as much as $16 million per season, according to Michael Russo (The Athletic).

Bill Guerin talks Kirill Kaprizov return, contract talks

Guerin has preached patience to a fanbase that already feels like its waited long enough for the announcement that the best player in franchise history, bar none, will remain in a Wild sweater for the foreseeable future. Thankfully, answers may be on the horizon.

"We've been talking all summer. Things are good….Kirill loves Minnesota…I know he believes in the team. These things just take time."#mnwild GM Bill Guerin provided an update on the Kirill Kaprizov contract situation with @DanBarreiroKFAN at the Minnesota State Fair. pic.twitter.com/nt07JDOE7x

— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) August 29, 2025

“We’ve been talking all summer. Things are good, things are in a good spot. I’m comfortable with where everything is. Listen, Kirill loves Minnesota. I know he loves Minnesota, I know he believes in the team. These things just take time.”

“Look, this took up a lot of my summer so I would have loved this done [July 1]. But it just doesn’t happen that way and you have to work through it. Both sides have to be happy and comfortable with where you’re at so we take our time.”

Bill Guerin – KFAN Radio (above)

Related: Minnesota Wild Get Deal Done with Disgruntled Youngster

Billy has told inquiring media members that talks with Kirill Kaprizov will be restarted when he returns from his offseason vacation back home, when Minnesota’s PoHO can talk to his 2020-21 Calder Trophy winner face-to-face, without any concern that his message is getting lost in translation between Kirill and his agent.

In a perfect world, as Billy mentions, the MN Wild would have been able to strike a deal with Kaprizov on July 1, the first day he became eligible for an extension. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. And now, with Kirill overseas, the two sides haven’t talked since that date came and went.

Contract negotiations with the Minnesota Wild coming soon

So… when will Kirill arrive stateside? At this point in the offseason, with training camp less than three weeks away, we knew it was a matter of days/weeks, not months, before the Russian superstar landed back in America. But this weekend, we got a more specific window of time for Kaprizov’s planned return.

According to what Guerin told KFAN’s Dan Barreiro during his radio appearance at the State Fair, Kirill Kaprizov’s return flight was booked for 7-10 days from Friday, meaning we are no just a week (at most) away from Kirill landing stateside.

Barreiro: “Do we know when [Kaprizov] is getting back from Russia?”

Guerin: “Yes, we have an idea”

Barreiro: “Well, what is it?”

Guerin: “Uhhh… What’s today?”

Barreiro: “Today is August 29.”

Guerin: “I’d say 7-10 days.”

Barreiro: “Well, if he likes it so much here, why doesn’t he come back sooner?”

Guerin: “Because he doesn’t like to go back and forth, Siberia is a long ways away.”

KFAN Radio (video above)

Related: Extension Incoming for Minnesota Wild Goalie?

Of course, Guerin’s decision to pause negotiations, until he can speak to Kirill Kaprizov in person, is an understandable one. His agent, afterall, is Paul Theofanous, who is notorious for getting his clients (many of which are Russian) the largest contract possible, oftentimes outside their team of origin.

If there is one thing the Minnesota Wild cannot afford during contract negotiations with Kaprizov and Theofanous is miscommunication that causes confusion, or worse, frustration.

What does Kirill Kaprizov want from MN Wild?

At this point, we know a few things about this negotiation. For Kirill, it’s not about the final number of the contract. The Wild can pay him more than any other team. From all accounts, Kaprizov is worried about winning. Thus, Guerin’s main pitch will be Minnesota’s plan to build a Stanley Cup caliber team around him.

Joe Smith (The Athletic) at which time Guerin will be anxiously waiting to speak with the most important asset in the Minnesota Wild’s 25-year history — who’s racked up 185 goals, 201 assists and over 65 hours of ice time in his 5 NHL seasons.

Money doesn’t seem to be a hurdle here. Not the average annual value (AAV), not the bonus structure. This is all in Kaprizov’s hands and rightfully so.

Joe Smith – The Athletic

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Bill Guerin also mentioned the other amenities in Minnesota that Kirill Kaprizov enjoys, specifically fishing and other outdoor activities he enjoys year-round. But in the end, at least with this Russian superstar, “it’s about f**king winning,” which is probably why Billy likes him so much.

Will they be able to convince Russia’s prince of hockey that, with him as their centerpiece, the MN Wild can win their first ever Stanley Cup? If not, there’s no doubt they will be start testing the trade market waters, to make sure they do not lose such a worthy asset for nothing.