With the final year of their contracts approaching, the futures of superstars Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov are beginning to shape the NHL market. While both the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild players have yet to sign extensions with their respective franchises, there is growing anticipation around the league over how their decisions will influence the salary dynamics for other free agents.
The Oilers have made McDavid their top priority as he enters the final year of his contract and expect to have clarity on a potential extension by the end of August. Kaprizov, for his part, is also in the final year of a five-year, $45 million deal (AAV of $9 million). Wild GM Bill Guerin has made it clear that re-signing Kaprizov is a major priority for the franchise. In the meantime, both situations are already having an impact across the league.
According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, McDavid and Kaprizov could trigger a waiting game among players due to their pending UFA status. Minnesota and Edmonton are quickly becoming the focal point of offseason speculation.
McDavid and Kaprizov set the tone for negotiations
“Once those players sign, I think you’ll see some of those other potential top UFAs next year say ‘OK, now the top of the market has been set. It’s easier for me to find the sweet spot or the comfortable place with the team to go, after those two guys are done,’” Friedman said, referring to the impact McDavid and Kaprizov will have.
Minnesota Wild Right Wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) skates to the face-off circle during an NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche on January 31, 2021, at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN.
The logic is clear: McDavid and Kaprizov, both elite scorers and established stara, will set the new financial benchmark for top players entering free agency next summer. Until there’s clarity on what kind of contracts they sign and with which teams, other stars seeking new deals are likely to wait it out.
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Other franchises are watching closely
The McDavid and Kaprizov situations aren’t just about future negotiations, they’re also drawing the attention of other teams looking to make a splash. The Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Los Angeles Kings are among the franchises closely monitoring developments, whether to prepare aggressive offers or to fine-tune their salary cap strategies as the market takes shape.
