As training camp opens this week, the Minnesota Wild are on edge. The Wild thought a face-to-face meeting with Kirill Kaprizov would result in the agreement of the richest contract in NHL history. Instead, it came with one big question: What does Kaprizov want?
Increasingly, it appears to be all about the money, especially with the NHL’s salary cap expected to skyrocket over the next several years. Some believe it’s a term issue where Kaprizov can cash in again as he heads into his early 30s. Then, there’s the issue of building a winning roster, and that’s where things get complicated.
After a lackluster “Christmas,” the Wild looks a lot like the team that suffered its seventh straight first-round playoff loss last May. But even if they’re planning on a Vladimir Tarasenko resurgence or a group of young players coming of age, that may not be appealing to a player who is entering his prime at 28 years old.
They need something more that they can sell to Kaprizov. And that pitch could be Matt Boldy’s potential.
While everyone focuses on Kaprizov, Boldy is a central player in the Wild’s future. At age 24, he’s on the cusp of becoming a franchise star. However, he also has areas to improve in his game, including finding the consistency to allow him to be Minnesota’s No. 2 scoring threat. Even if the latter is the case, he’s the closest thing to a game-changer that the Wild has and the player with the most information on the table.
The Wild have flaunted their young core for a long time. Former general manager Paul Fenton drafted Boldy in the first round, but Bill Guerin has reaped the benefits after arriving in Minnesota a few months later. Boldy’s career started with a 15-goal, 39-point rookie season in 2021-22, and his growth continued. He scored 27 goals and a career-high 73 points during the 2024-25 season.
The stats are one thing, and Boldy has been a 30-goal threat. But anybody watching him can see there’s room for more. Boldy’s start to last season made many believe a breakout was coming. Although he slowed down in the middle of the year, his playoff performance against the Vegas Golden Knights, with five goals and seven points in six games, has many believing he’s due for a star turn.
If that happens, the Wild will be a dramatically different team. Kaprizov has been the focal point that teams look to take away when they play Minnesota. While Kaprizov has still found a way to stuff the score sheet, his impact could become even greater if he has a second threat to go with him.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested Kaprizov could be seeking $19 to $20 million, and some teams would pay him that in free agency. Still, many of those places can’t offer the complete team that the Wild could field if Boldy realizes his potential.
Let’s say Boldy takes the next step and reaches 80 points next season. That’s a plateau that only 26 players reached last season. If Boldy takes a massive leap and has 90 points, he’ll come close to joining the league’s elite players. Only 12 players reached that mark last season. If Boldy reaches the latter, he’ll probably join a group of eight players that scored 40 or more goals last season, which would be a tremendous development for the Wild.
The best part is that this is a realistic scenario. Prospects like Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and Danila Yurov are still developing, and none of them has shown the upside that Boldy has shown over his first four seasons. It’s why Boldy could become the face of the franchise if he improves his deficiencies and they trade Kaprizov. Obviously, the Wild are hoping it doesn’t get to that.
Instead, they’re thinking of a future with Boldy and Kaprizov. With Boldy making $7 million per year through the 2029-30 season, the Wild could work in a big-money deal, especially if it’s a shorter term of four to five years. By that time, Minnesota could have to dish out two big-money deals if they have two stars. However, that’s a problem Guerin will happily deal with if the Wild can capitalize on this window.
It’s all something the Wild can remind Kaprizov when he considers whether to sign on the dotted line or haggle for a few extra million. Kaprizov has seen Boldy grow over the past four years and would have a better idea of whether he’s capable of making the leap than anyone outside the building.
If he believes in Boldy, he’ll be more inclined to sign. And if that’s the case, Kaprizov could be signed to an extension sooner rather than later.