The Minnesota Wild entered Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche with a chance to push their second-round series deeper. Instead, they left Ball Arena facing major questions about their future, their roster structure, and the pressure now attached to Kirill Kaprizov’s NHL-record contract extension.
Minnesota blew a 3-0 lead before losing 4-3 in overtime on Brett Kulak’s series-winning goal Wednesday night. The turning point came moments earlier in overtime when Kaprizov passed on a 2-on-1 opportunity instead of shooting. The sequence turned the other way, ending with Colorado celebrating a Western Conference Final berth.
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NHL analyst Shayna Goldman highlighted the play on X, writing, “Kaprizov passing here instead of shooting sets the series-clinching sequence in motion, really tough one for the Wild after coming out so strong tonight.”
The criticism intensified because Kaprizov’s new eight-year, $136 million extension will begin next season with a staggering $17 million annual cap hit. No other NHL player is going to get paid that much, not even $15 million.
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Contract value now becomes part of the conversation
On the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, former NHL forward Matt Murley questioned both the size of the contract and what it means inside a locker room, trying to compete for a Stanley Cup.
“During the season, Kaprizov goes and signs for 17 million dollars,” Murley said. “Nobody needs to be making 17 million dollars. And it just doesn’t feel right in a team if some guys are making $750K, and I got this guy making 17 million, and then it’s fraudulent for 17 million dollars, even though we’ve never seen someone make that much.”
Murley’s comments were harsh, especially after Kaprizov finished Game 5 without a shot on goal.
“One shot in Game 4, zero shots in Game 5. Puck on his stick to win the game in overtime, passes it off. That is not a 17 million dollar player.”
Murley compared the deal to stars like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, both of whom accepted contracts below market value during championship windows. Crosby’s long-standing $8.7 million cap hit became a league benchmark for team-friendly leadership, while McDavid has also avoided a major raise (signing for $12.5 million AAV) to help Edmonton stay competitive.
Still, Paul Bissonnette pushed back on the idea that Kaprizov disappeared entirely.
Kirill Kaprizov produced, but not when it mattered the most
Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov (97) during 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Bissonnette pointed out that Kaprizov still led Minnesota offensively during the postseason, finishing with 15 points in 11 playoff games. He also contributed defensively and helped create Minnesota’s early offense in the elimination game.
“I thought he played pretty well,” Bissonnette said. “He did a lot of good things… So it’s not like he was invisible. I do agree that $17M is a very high number.”
That context matters. The Wild were missing key players like Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin throughout the series. Colorado also exposed Minnesota’s depth problems and overwhelmed them territorially after the first period of Game 5.
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But fair or not, franchise-altering contracts change how stars are judged. Kaprizov is no longer viewed simply as Minnesota’s best player. He is now expected to dominate defining playoff moments consistently.
The Wild remain a strong playoff team, but this series showed the difference between a contender and a championship favorite. Colorado had waves of pressure, elite depth scoring, and stars who dictated games late. Minnesota had stretches. That gap now becomes the challenge Kaprizov’s era must close.