The Minnesota Wild are stepping into their championship window, and that means the money gets complicated fast. Kirill Kaprizov’s contract is going onto the books this year, and if Quinn Hughes signs an extension, that deal could land in the same neighborhood. That kind of payroll pressure is the price of chasing a Stanley Cup, the same reality the Edmonton Oilers have lived with on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
What gives Minnesota a real edge is Matt Boldy’s contract.
The seven-year, $49 million deal has the feel of a franchise bargain, the kind of contract Wild fans might one day joke about hanging in the rafters of Grand Casino Arena. Even though Boldy was left off The Athletic’s list of the NHL’s best contracts, Dom Luszczyszyn’s model still points to huge value for Minnesota and a player the team can keep building around.
By Luszczyszyn’s numbers, Boldy is earning far less than his open-market value. The model pegs an average NHL player at $4 million per season, then adds roughly $400,000 to $600,000 for every goal above average, depending on positional value.
With the average player scoring about 20 goals a year, and using $500,000 per extra goal as the middle ground, Boldy would be worth about $15 million per season right now. That’s more than twice his $7 million annual average.
That matters because Boldy has already become one of the Wild’s most productive players. Since debuting in the 2021-22 season, he has 144 goals and 329 points. If you start the clock at his first full NHL season in 2022-23, he still ranks 29th in goals with 129 and 34th in points with 290.
General Manager Bill Guerin has said Boldy could someday be a 50-goal, 50-assist player in a season. Even if he never gets there, the contract is still a major win for Minnesota. It gives the Wild room to maneuver while they try to turn this window into something bigger.
That flexibility could matter even more if Hughes ends up on a Kaprizov-like deal. The salary cap is rising, but the league has gotten tougher to navigate because so many teams are using their space to keep their own stars. That has pushed clubs toward overpaying on the open market or swinging trades to find better value.
Boldy’s deal gives Minnesota a chance to do both the smart way and the aggressive way. Dylan Larkin is the immediate name mentioned as a possible target, especially at his $8.7 million per season bargain. If that route doesn’t open up, the Wild could be positioned for even bigger names down the line, including Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews or even McDavid if they ever become available.
The Wild have already shown the blueprint with Boldy and Brock Faber, and that approach could keep working. Bobby Brink bet on himself to return to Minnesota this offseason, and if he has a strong year, he could be next in line for a deal that brings value. Maxim Shabanov could also be headed toward an extension if his one-year gamble pays off.
Eventually, Boldy’s bill will come due. His contract runs through the 2029-30 season, though, and that gives the Wild a clear runway. It could help them keep Hughes in Minnesota for the next few years, or simply keep the roster stocked with talent as they try to build a championship-caliber team.
In Other News...
Wild Fans Won't Love Where Jason Robertson Drama Could Be Headed
Jason Robertsons future in Dallas has already become one of the more interesting storylines to watch in the Central Division. The Stars and their young star settled on a short-term contract before the arbitration hearing, and while general manager Jim Nill has made clear the club wants to keep him around long term, the arrangement only adds to the sense that this is not a finished conversation.
For the Wild, any uncertainty around Robertson is worth monitoring because it touches a rival that has leaned on him heavily. Dallas should have plenty of cap room next offseason to work with, but that does not guarantee a clean path to an extension, especially if Robertsons price keeps climbing or the teams direction changes. He has already shown he is willing to push back on certain paths, and that leaves Minnesota fans with at least a little reason to keep one eye on what happens next. [Read more 🡒]
Blake Coleman Could Change Something Big For The Wild Forward Group
Blake Coleman looks like the kind of addition Minnesota has been searching for in its forward group, a player who can bring secondary scoring without needing the puck to run through him. He has spent time on both wing and center, and that kind of versatility gives the Wild a little more room to sort out their middle six while keeping the focus on Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy at the top of the lineup.
Colemans game has long been built on pace, pressure and a knack for being around the right play at the right time, which makes him more than just a depth name. He also brings a proven track record from winning two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay, and the bigger question for Minnesota is how much that blend of reliability and opportunism can change the way the forward group functions night to night. [Read more 🡒]