Minnesota Wild sensation and restricted free agent Kirill Kaprizov has received a contract offer from CSKA Moscow of the KHL, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
The Wild are aware of the situation and still believe they will retain the reigning rookie of the year with two months until NHL training camps open, LeBrun notes.
Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin refuted speculation earlier in July that talks between the club and Kaprizov had stalled.
Kaprisov and the Wild reportedly disagree on the length of a potential deal. Minnesota offered Kaprizov an eight-year contract, but he prefers a three-year pact, according to LeBrun.
The Wild drafted Kaprizov 135th overall in 2015. He spent five seasons in the KHL - including three with CSKA Moscow - before venturing to North America. He notched 51 points in 55 games during his electric NHL debut to help Minnesota secure a playoff spot.
The Wild have over $26 million in offseason cap space to lock in a new deal for Kaprizov, according to CapFriendly. But Minnesota's financial situation gets tighter after next season: The recent buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise will count for over $12.7 million in dead cap space in 2022-23 and more than $14.7 million from 2023-25.
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