Blackhawks' Rival Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov Remains Second-Highest Paid Player in the NHL

Kirill Kaprizov Remains Second-Highest Paid Player in the NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks' signing of Connor Bedard to a five-year contract worth $15 million average annual value (AAV) has made him the third-highest-paid player in the NHL. This move has left Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov as the second-highest-paid player in the league, with a contract worth $17 million AAV.

What happened?

The Blackhawks have agreed to a five-year deal with Connor Bedard, a restricted free agent. Bedard's deal will see the Blackhawks pay him an average annual value of $15 million, making him the third-highest-paid player in the NHL behind Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million AAV) and Anaheim Ducks' Leo Carlsson ($18 million AAV).

Why it matters for Kirill Kaprizov

Kirill Kaprizov's contract remains one of the most significant in the league, with a value of $17 million AAV. This makes him a key player for the Minnesota Wild, and his performance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.

What comes next?

The Blackhawks' signing of Connor Bedard has set a new benchmark for player contracts in the NHL. As the league continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how other teams respond to this move and how it affects the market for top players.

The Blackhawks made a big move to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres this off-season as they hope to begin competing for a playoff spot. Missing their best offensive player for the first month or so of the season will hamper their chances. But with young stars like Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell, Oliver Moore, Roman Kantserov, and Nick Lardis up front, with Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov on the blueline and Spencer Knight in net, the goal for the Blackhawks is to remain afloat until Bedard is healthy.

Bedard is the future of the Blackhawks and could be named captain this season, so locking up the 21-year-old was an important piece of business that needed to be handled well before the start of the 2026-27 season.

The Blackhawks' signing of Connor Bedard has sent shockwaves throughout the NHL, and it will be interesting to see how this move affects the league in the coming seasons.

category: club_news