Kirill Kaprizov loved playing at Minnesota until reports emerged that the winger had declined a $128 million, eight-year extension offer from the team. The news was enough to trigger rumors across the league. Of course, Minnesota’s front office would not want to part ways with the face of their franchise, but nonetheless, a move could be the only option left if contract negotiations do not end well.
Among the several possible scenarios, speculations have emerged that Kaprizov could arguably make his way to the New York Rangers to replace Artemi Panarin, who is nearing the end of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
What are the Odds Kirill Kaprizov Will Replace Artemi Panarin in the Rangers?
According to the NHL’s list of the top 20 wingers in the league, Kaprizov is the third-best winger right now, and that is accounting for the fact that much of his last season was marred by injuries. Any team would be open to the prospect of welcoming the 28-year-old winger to its lineup, but the price is expected to be exorbitant. However, the Rangers could still be in contention.
Jeff Marek recently appeared on the “Sekeres and Price podcast” to advance the idea: “Artemi Panarin’s on the last year of his contract, there is not a hint or a whisper of a contract extension; can anyone else see Kirill Kaprizov sliding into that spot?”
Athlon Sports’ Matt Levine weighed in on the subject, writing that a move surrounding Panarin would not exactly be unforeseen, and on the other hand, Kaprizov could help improve the Rangers’ odds of lifting the Stanley Cup. “New York has been rumored to either desire to trade Panarin to clear up cap space or allow him to finish the year without retaining him,” Levine said. “Kaprizov is the type of star that could help the Rangers get right back into Stanley Cup contention, and it’s something that the team has likely been monitoring.”
However, it will be wise to consider that the Wild-Kaprizov negotiations are still underway. As Pierre LeBrun recently stated, the Wild are not in talks with other teams about Kaprizov. It is essential to take into account that the winger has been an indelible element of the Minnesota outfit, and Bill Guerin will go the extra mile to retain Kaprizov.
Guerin on Kaprizov: “These negotiations are private. I can’t really get into it. Things are fine. The most important thing is that we want to sign Kirill. He’s our franchise player. We want to keep him here. He’s a big part of our team. We’re working towards that. We’re doing the…
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 18, 2025
The Wild still believes that the team has a shot at successfully executing a contract agreeable to both parties. “Until then, there is no point for teams to be calling because the Wild do not want to take their calls,” stated LeBrun.
As far as Panarin is concerned, the veteran winger is focused on giving his best in the upcoming season rather than anything else. GM Chris Drury of the Rangers reiterated his belief in the 33-year-old, saying that any discussions regarding Panarin’s future with the team will remain confidential. “He’s a huge piece of our team and our organization. He does not appear to me to be slowing down. He takes his offseason seriously. He looks like he’s in great shape and ready to go.”
“As far as the contract stuff, I’ve also said on record that I don’t talk about negotiations publicly. Any conversations I have with Artemi or his representation will stay that way, just private,” stated Drury as per Dan Rosen’s report for the NHL.
Any discussion surrounding Kaprizov’s move to the Rangers is purely speculative. Still, if contract talks between Minnesota and Kaprizov fall apart, it will be interesting to see if the Rangers are interested in landing the 28-year-old superstar.
