59 mins. ago
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov broke a second-period tie with his NHL-leading 10th goal, Jesper Wallstedt stopped 13 shots and the Minnesota Wild beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Sunday night.
Danila Yurov also scored to help the Central Division-leading Wild improve to 6-2-1.
Adam Fantilli scored for Columbus. Cam Talbot made 32 saves.
Kaprizov broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal at 3:06 of the second, beating Talbot over the shoulder from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.
Both goalies stood tall early in the first period. Wallstedt denied Connor Garland on a breakaway two minutes into the game. Then Talbot made three saves as the Blue Jackets killed off a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:52.
#kaprizov #broke
Danila Yurov also scored to help the Central Division-leading Wild improve to 6-2-1.
Adam Fantilli scored for Columbus. Cam Talbot made 32 saves.
Kaprizov broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal at 3:06 of the second, beating Talbot over the shoulder from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.
Both goalies stood tall early in the first period. Wallstedt denied Connor Garland on a breakaway two minutes into the game. Then Talbot made three saves as the Blue Jackets killed off a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:52.
#kaprizov #broke
1 month ago
Last Word On Hockey's Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2026-27 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team's current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We'll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we're previewing the 2026-27 Minnesota Wild.
There's been plenty of chatter about the 2026-27 Minnesota Wild. The main offseason rabble has been whether or not Quinn Hughes will sign an extension. Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin was able to weaponize the salary cap **** e since the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were greatly reduced. Guerin has been taking care of players like Brock Faber and Kirill Kaprizov.
However, the Hughes question hangs over the franchise's head like a cloud. The Wild rolled the dice to get the high-flying defender from the Vancouver Canucks. However, it would be a disaster if the Olympic Gold Medal winner doesn't stay beyond this season. The Wild have only made the Western Conference Final once in the franchise's history. Minnesota knows the pressure is on to at least get back there.
Guerin fulfulled his promise of making the team into a Stanley Cup contender. He managed to give Kaprizov the deal that would keep the dynamic forward in the fold. However, getting Hughes proved to be a masterstroke. It cemented the Wild as a contender despite being in one of the toughest divisions in hockey.
Minnesota looked the part of a contender by finishing 10th in scoring, fourth in defence, and seventh in points. The Wild even broke some of their bad postseason luck by getting past the Dallas Stars. However, the same old Wild came back in the second round in a loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild were exposed as not having as much depth as the Avs and not having enough team speed. Minnesota has made plenty of progress, but the team still has a long way to go.
#hughes #guerin #back #last
There's been plenty of chatter about the 2026-27 Minnesota Wild. The main offseason rabble has been whether or not Quinn Hughes will sign an extension. Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin was able to weaponize the salary cap **** e since the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were greatly reduced. Guerin has been taking care of players like Brock Faber and Kirill Kaprizov.
However, the Hughes question hangs over the franchise's head like a cloud. The Wild rolled the dice to get the high-flying defender from the Vancouver Canucks. However, it would be a disaster if the Olympic Gold Medal winner doesn't stay beyond this season. The Wild have only made the Western Conference Final once in the franchise's history. Minnesota knows the pressure is on to at least get back there.
Guerin fulfulled his promise of making the team into a Stanley Cup contender. He managed to give Kaprizov the deal that would keep the dynamic forward in the fold. However, getting Hughes proved to be a masterstroke. It cemented the Wild as a contender despite being in one of the toughest divisions in hockey.
Minnesota looked the part of a contender by finishing 10th in scoring, fourth in defence, and seventh in points. The Wild even broke some of their bad postseason luck by getting past the Dallas Stars. However, the same old Wild came back in the second round in a loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild were exposed as not having as much depth as the Avs and not having enough team speed. Minnesota has made plenty of progress, but the team still has a long way to go.
#hughes #guerin #back #last
2 months ago
The NHL has its first $20 million man. Friday, the Avalanche announced an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension with Cale Makar. The average annual value comes in at $20.4 million, handing the 27-year-old star defenseman the highest AAV in league history. It's just below the league maximum at $20.8M, and the total contract is the largest in NHL history.
Makar's landmark contract comes just a month after Sharks center Macklin Celebrini set a new high-water mark at $18.8 million AAV as part of a five-year, $94 million deal. Though bigger, Makar's deal similarly contains eye-popping signing bonuses: In the final year, at age 36, Makar will be guaranteed a whopping $18.8 million.
The highest NHL AAV has now been smashed four times throughout the past year—and three times this summer alone.
In September 2025, Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov signed a then-record $136 million, eight-year extension at $17 million AAV—resetting the market for the league's stars. In June, offer-sheet drama surrounding Leo Carlsson pushed the Ducks to sign the center to an $18 million AAV deal. But in July, Celebrini agreed to his deal, and Makar knocked him off less than a month later.
Makar is the only defenseman of the four. Along with setting a new high bar in the sport, his deal also ratchets up the market for the NHL's other top defensemen, whose new contracts are imminent: particularly Quinn Hughes, who was moved to Minnesota in a blockbuster trade last season; and Matthew Schaefer of the Islanders, who is coming off of a Calder Trophy–winning season during which he banked rookie records.
#contract #eight
Makar's landmark contract comes just a month after Sharks center Macklin Celebrini set a new high-water mark at $18.8 million AAV as part of a five-year, $94 million deal. Though bigger, Makar's deal similarly contains eye-popping signing bonuses: In the final year, at age 36, Makar will be guaranteed a whopping $18.8 million.
The highest NHL AAV has now been smashed four times throughout the past year—and three times this summer alone.
In September 2025, Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov signed a then-record $136 million, eight-year extension at $17 million AAV—resetting the market for the league's stars. In June, offer-sheet drama surrounding Leo Carlsson pushed the Ducks to sign the center to an $18 million AAV deal. But in July, Celebrini agreed to his deal, and Makar knocked him off less than a month later.
Makar is the only defenseman of the four. Along with setting a new high bar in the sport, his deal also ratchets up the market for the NHL's other top defensemen, whose new contracts are imminent: particularly Quinn Hughes, who was moved to Minnesota in a blockbuster trade last season; and Matthew Schaefer of the Islanders, who is coming off of a Calder Trophy–winning season during which he banked rookie records.
#contract #eight
3 months ago
The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, keeping the rising star and creating a little bit of a cap squeeze for the team.
The $18 million average annual value on the offer sheet makes Carlsson, 21, the highest-paid player in the NHL, passing the $17 million for Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. The Flyers would have owed the Ducks four first-round picks if they had not matched.
With the match and the recent re-signing of defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Tyson Hinds, the Ducks have about $9 million in remaining cap ***** e according to puckpedia.com
Cutter Gauthier, the team's leading scorer, still has to sign and that cap ***** e might not be enough after a 41-goal season. The Ducks' defense also could use an upgrade. That means general manager Pat Verbeek might have to trade a veteran or two to be cap-compliant.
Here's what to know about the Ducks matching the Flyers' offer sheet:
The $18 million average annual value on the offer sheet makes Carlsson, 21, the highest-paid player in the NHL, passing the $17 million for Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. The Flyers would have owed the Ducks four first-round picks if they had not matched.
With the match and the recent re-signing of defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Tyson Hinds, the Ducks have about $9 million in remaining cap ***** e according to puckpedia.com
Cutter Gauthier, the team's leading scorer, still has to sign and that cap ***** e might not be enough after a 41-goal season. The Ducks' defense also could use an upgrade. That means general manager Pat Verbeek might have to trade a veteran or two to be cap-compliant.
Here's what to know about the Ducks matching the Flyers' offer sheet:
3 months ago
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, keeping their rising young star at an extraordinary cost.
The Ducks announced their decision Thursday on the 21-year-old Carlsson, who is now the NHL's highest-paid player under the five-year, $90 million deal extended by the Flyers one week ago.
Carlsson signed the Flyers' offer sheet as a restricted free agent after a year of fruitless negotiations with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek, whose typical hardline approach in contract talks with his restricted free agents backfired tremendously this time.
Carlsson's new contract is worth much more than the league expected he would get as a restricted free agent, and the $18 million average annual value is significantly more than he had already indicated he would accept. The deal surpasses the salary of Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, who would have been the NHL's highest-paid player at $17 million.
___
The Ducks announced their decision Thursday on the 21-year-old Carlsson, who is now the NHL's highest-paid player under the five-year, $90 million deal extended by the Flyers one week ago.
Carlsson signed the Flyers' offer sheet as a restricted free agent after a year of fruitless negotiations with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek, whose typical hardline approach in contract talks with his restricted free agents backfired tremendously this time.
Carlsson's new contract is worth much more than the league expected he would get as a restricted free agent, and the $18 million average annual value is significantly more than he had already indicated he would accept. The deal surpasses the salary of Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, who would have been the NHL's highest-paid player at $17 million.
___
3 months ago
Big drama and unprecedented money have hit the NHL offseason player market.
A fairly conventional beginning to the league’s free-agent window, marked in part by Alex Ovechkin’s return to Washington, took a significant turn with the Flyers’ offer sheet for Ducks center Leo Carlsson.
The Flyers have tendered an offer sheet for Carlsson—a 21-year-old restricted free agent thought to be entering his professional prime—worth $90 million over five years. The average annual value of $18 million sets a new league record, surpassing the $17 million AAV for Wild star Kirill Kaprizov that goes into effect beginning with the 2026–27 season.
The Ducks now have a pivotal choice to make by 3 p.m. ET Friday. Their two options include:
Match the Flyers’ offer and retain Carlsson at the unprecedented figure. Thanks to a league record $104 million salary cap for the forthcoming season, keeping Carlsson would still leave the Ducks with nearly $10 million in cap ***** e. Anaheim, however, would see Carlsson soak up more than 17% of their total cap. The Ducks are also obligated to match the specific terms of the Flyers’ offer, which is significantly front-loaded and based heavily on signing bonuses, including one for the upcoming season of nearly $20 million.
A fairly conventional beginning to the league’s free-agent window, marked in part by Alex Ovechkin’s return to Washington, took a significant turn with the Flyers’ offer sheet for Ducks center Leo Carlsson.
The Flyers have tendered an offer sheet for Carlsson—a 21-year-old restricted free agent thought to be entering his professional prime—worth $90 million over five years. The average annual value of $18 million sets a new league record, surpassing the $17 million AAV for Wild star Kirill Kaprizov that goes into effect beginning with the 2026–27 season.
The Ducks now have a pivotal choice to make by 3 p.m. ET Friday. Their two options include:
Match the Flyers’ offer and retain Carlsson at the unprecedented figure. Thanks to a league record $104 million salary cap for the forthcoming season, keeping Carlsson would still leave the Ducks with nearly $10 million in cap ***** e. Anaheim, however, would see Carlsson soak up more than 17% of their total cap. The Ducks are also obligated to match the specific terms of the Flyers’ offer, which is significantly front-loaded and based heavily on signing bonuses, including one for the upcoming season of nearly $20 million.
4 months ago
The Philadelphia Flyers tendering a five-year, $90 million offer sheet to the Anaheim Ducks‘ Leo Carlsson was expected to have a massive ripple effect on the future contracts for some of the NHL’s top stars. With Chicago Blackhawks‘ center Connor Bedard eligible for an extension, it appears we know what the price tag might be to sign him.
According to TheFourthPeriod‘s Irfaan Gaffar, Bedard is seeking an extension worth around $17 million per season, in the range of what Kirill Kaprizov signed with the Minnesota Wild.
Connor Bedard stats (2025-26): 75 points (45 ****** ists, 30 goals), 5 game-winning goals, 20:52 TOI/G, 315 faceoffs won, 47.1% face-off percentage, 27 blocks, 31 hits
“Connor Bedard is in for a payday. He saw Bowen Byram get a payday. I think that Connor Bedard is looking at Kirill Kaprizov money. I think that is a situation and that is a number that he’s looking at, and I do strongly believe that he thinks he deserves it. I’m not entirely sure the Chicago Blackhawks as an organization are close to that number when discussing Connor Bedard right now.”
Irfaan Gaffar on the potential cost of a Connor Bedard contract extension
According to TheFourthPeriod‘s Irfaan Gaffar, Bedard is seeking an extension worth around $17 million per season, in the range of what Kirill Kaprizov signed with the Minnesota Wild.
Connor Bedard stats (2025-26): 75 points (45 ****** ists, 30 goals), 5 game-winning goals, 20:52 TOI/G, 315 faceoffs won, 47.1% face-off percentage, 27 blocks, 31 hits
“Connor Bedard is in for a payday. He saw Bowen Byram get a payday. I think that Connor Bedard is looking at Kirill Kaprizov money. I think that is a situation and that is a number that he’s looking at, and I do strongly believe that he thinks he deserves it. I’m not entirely sure the Chicago Blackhawks as an organization are close to that number when discussing Connor Bedard right now.”
Irfaan Gaffar on the potential cost of a Connor Bedard contract extension
4 months ago
NHL free agency tracker 2026: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A year ago, the 2026 NHL free-agent class was billed as potentially one of the best ever, headlined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov.
That shine has since faded, with all three signing extensions and numerous other players also locking themselves into long-term deals. Other major free agents, including Alex Tuch, were acquired and extended by a new team in the days leading up to free agency.
For those who remain, including Rasmus Andersson, Anthony Mantha and the great Alex Ovechkin — plus the top trade candidates — the action officially starts at noon ET on Wednesday.
The Sporting News is tracking the latest NHL free agency signings, news and rumors. Follow along below with the newest updates.
A year ago, the 2026 NHL free-agent class was billed as potentially one of the best ever, headlined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov.
That shine has since faded, with all three signing extensions and numerous other players also locking themselves into long-term deals. Other major free agents, including Alex Tuch, were acquired and extended by a new team in the days leading up to free agency.
For those who remain, including Rasmus Andersson, Anthony Mantha and the great Alex Ovechkin — plus the top trade candidates — the action officially starts at noon ET on Wednesday.
The Sporting News is tracking the latest NHL free agency signings, news and rumors. Follow along below with the newest updates.
4 months ago
The 2025-26 NHL season is over with the Carolina Hurricanes defeating the Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup championship.
Now, general managers are focusing on getting their teams in shape for next season.
First up is the NHL draft on June 26-27 in Buffalo, where the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery.
Then comes free agency, which opens on July 1.
This year's once-spectacular crop of free agents has been whittled down with Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, Evgeni Malkin and others signing extensions.
Now, general managers are focusing on getting their teams in shape for next season.
First up is the NHL draft on June 26-27 in Buffalo, where the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery.
Then comes free agency, which opens on July 1.
This year's once-spectacular crop of free agents has been whittled down with Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, Evgeni Malkin and others signing extensions.
