Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast – Sixty-Six Million Reasons to Stay episode,
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Bukauskas: “Looks like it’s been a big season in Minnesota as well. Don’t you think Elliotte? So Kirill kaprizov, next summer will be eligible for an extension. Last week, the owner Craig Leopold made the availability of media and local media where, saying his line, ‘that no one can give more money than we would give him when the time comes.’ What did you learn when Leopold came out and said that about their star player?
Friedman: “So after reading those quotes, I was thinking, Kyle, that this is going to be one of the biggest stories in the NHL this year. You know, how long before Draisaitl signed, people were debating his future? Same with Austin Matthews. Check out what we did with Mitch Marner.
That’s when, like star players who don’t often move in this league, when you get to a situation where it looks like a top player might consider going somewhere else, people just get discouraged and end up not getting enough.
And then, you know, Craig Leopold, I love quotes. I thought they were really honest. I think they are absolutely true. But that’s why, you know where Minnesota is at the deadline and next summer, the results they have this year, just the fact that these are there means there’s going to be a kind of Kaprizov watch going on.
And now I saw Mark, Mark Lazarus of the Athletic, you know, he just made a comment about, oh, I think it was Chicago, and he had to take it back, because he forgets that sometimes he does these. predictions, then the internet fires start to burn and singe through your body.
So, you know, you know, like, this is, this is kind of like, so, so I’m looking at the Minnesota year and they’re aware, and they’re acknowledged with notice. Like, no one needs to tell them that Kirill Kaprizov, they will have to show him that he is worth living with.
And you can always enter the next season if you want. There are many ways this could go, and I really don’t want to add any fuel to the fire by speculating anything like this, but I wrote down in my notes that, you know, just watch Wild and Kaprizov because they are careful with their words. Which means that everyone else notices too.
And, you know, (Matt) Boldy got hurt. But the thing, the thing I noticed, is that it looks like some of their kids, like (Liam) Ohgren and (Marco) Rossi, had good camps. It’s still early, but it’s that kind of thing. Like, they’re going to need those guys to keep making moves if they’re going to convince Kaprizov, even (Jesper) Wallstedt and the goalie, too. There is another. They will need those kids to convince Kaprizov that the Wild is where he wants to be. So those young players I will be looking at as I will be looking at the results.
Bukauskas: “And one more thing, this is the last year the Wild pay that big of a fine for (Zach) Parise and (Ryan) Suter, right?
Friedman: “Yes.
Bukauskas: “This year, there’s still about 15 million dollars left, if that’s the case, it’s down to just under $1.7 next season. So the flexibility opens up the opportunity to make a smart plan for Bill Guerin and company. and although there are still two years left in the new agreement to create a situation for Kaprizov to sign his long term, because it sounds like that is the desire of the club.
But you’re right, it’s a big time for them now, after missing the playoffs last year. Something they haven’t done much in the last decade, but they reached a point last year, so suddenly it feels like the pressure is on, to have the best result here and to convince a guy of Kaprizov’s level, this. that’s where you want to be. This is where you will have the best chance of winning.
Friedman: “And you know what, you know, and you know what Kyle is, some of that will be part of their talk to him. The chains are coming off, there are no more handcuffs even though it is clear that the sum of that money will go to him.
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