The Minnesota Wild shook the hockey world with the massive contract extension they handed Kirill Kaprizov . Now, all eyes shift to Connor McDavid .

Karpizov and the Wild agreed to a massive eight-year deal carrying a $17 million annual cap hit — an NHL record by far — on Monday morning. Many are wondering just how long record will stick with the best player in the world needing a new deal in 2026.

Connor McDavid is on the final year of his contract with the Edmonton Oilers and will be an unrestricted free agent in July. With Kaprizov setting the bar so high, it presents a crossroads for McDavid and the Oilers.

Kaprizov has been one of the NHL’s top players since he entered the league in 2020-21. He was in early MVP conversations before sustaining an injury in 2024-25, scoring

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