Wild star Kirill Kaprizov eyeing Original Six team as he looks to leave Minnesota

PUBLICATION

Tom Banks
September 25, 2024 (11:54)

SHARE THIS STORY

Kirill Kaprizov has been a star for the Minnesota Wild, but now, he's reportedly already looking to the Chicago BlackHawks in the summer of 2026.

Over the past few seasons, Kirill Kaprizov has become one of the top wingers in the entire NHL, but in Minnesota, he doesn't get anywhere near the love and respect he deserves for his level of talent. In just 278 NHL games thus far, the Russian winger has tallied 160 goals and an incredible 330 points, and playing anywhere else but Minnesota, he'd be widely considered one of the league's biggest stars.

Now, we may be seeing the pull of one of the NHL's biggest stars on full display, as rumours have emerged that Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks could be a major reason why No. 97 wants to head to the Windy City in free agency in the summer of 2026, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.

With the 19-year old superstar excelling in his rookie campaign, Bedard's influence has already landed the Blackhawks a solid summer, with the team adding Alec Martinez, TJ Brodie, Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen in free agency already. However, Kaprizov would be another level of superstar to land in free agency, although it's going to cost the team, as he would be leaving a $9 million AAV salary in Minnesota with the expectation of a major upgrade.

While some fans choose to believe Kaprizov wouldn't leave the Wild for a Central Division rival, the chance to play with Bedard, who will have another two years of experience under his belt by that point may be too much to turn down, and some fans are already seemingly accepting it.

The rumours about Kirill the Thrill heading to Chicago started during the 2024 NHL Draft after the team selected another potential star in Artyom Levshunov, and with the team hoping to build their young core by that point, the summer of 2026 could change the entire trajectory of the organization.

In Minnesota, Kaprizov will never be accepted as a superstar given the lack of coverage and success the team get, and while a lot could change between now and the summer of 2026, expect the whispers to only grow louder for not only Kaprizov, but more stars league wide wanting to join Connor Bedard in Chicago.