Kirill Kaprizov’s Record-Breaking Salary Already Overtaken-How the NHL’s Cap Race Is Changing

**Kirill Kaprizov’s $17M AAV as the NHL’s highest-paid player lasted exactly two days before Leo Carlsson’s $18M offer sheet made him obsolete.** The Minnesota Wild’s superstar forward, who signed an eight-year, $136 million deal last September, now finds himself in a league where his record is already being challenged by a rising cap and aggressive spending.

On July 3, 2026, the Anaheim Ducks matched an offer sheet for **Leo Carlsson**, locking him to a five-year, $90 million contract with an **$18 million AAV**-$1 million more than Kaprizov’s. The Ducks will pay the league’s **$20.8 million maximum** in Year 1. While Carlsson is a promising young winger, his deal dwarfs Kaprizov’s in relative value: the Wild bought out eight unrestricted free agent years to secure their star, while Anaheim committed only one.

Kaprizov’s contract was historic when signed-**$136 million**, the largest in NHL history, eclipsing Alex Ovechkin’s 2008 deal. But the league’s **rising salary cap** has accelerated inflation. **Alex Tuch**, a 30-year-old winger, signed a **$10.5 million AAV**-placing him above stars like **Nikita Kucherov** and **Mark Stone**-despite delivering less than half Kaprizov’s **Standings Points Above Replacement** over three seasons.

**Pavel Dorofeyev** followed, inking a **$77 million, seven-year deal** with the New York Rangers. At 24, Dorofeyev has two fewer 40-goal seasons than Kaprizov had at his age. Meanwhile, the **Seattle Kraken reportedly offered Jason Robertson a $15 million AAV**, signaling teams are willing to pay **Kaprizov-level money** for elite wingers.

Kaprizov’s contract was supposed to set the standard. Instead, it became a **benchmark quickly surpassed**. The Wild’s move to retain their star-**buying out eight UFA years**-contrasts with Anaheim’s gamble on Carlsson, who hasn’t yet hit 30 goals or 70 points in a season. The cap’s surge means teams are no longer just matching offers; they’re **outbidding each other** for top talent.

The Wild’s strategy-**securing Kaprizov long-term**-remains sound. But the cap’s inflation means his $17M AAV could soon look modest. With **Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Kyle Connor** still unsigned, the league’s salary arms race isn’t slowing. Kaprizov’s deal was revolutionary; now, it’s just the starting point.