Kaprizov to Reset the Market for NHL Stars, and it May Create Issues for Leafs with Matthews

Auston Matthews' reign as the highest paid player in the NHL didn't last all that long after he was usurped by Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl's reign isn't expected to last long either as recent reports suggest that Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov is next in line.

Since the beginning of the off-season, there were rumours about Kaprizov's extension going well past Draisaitl's $14 million dollar cap hit. However, we might have a clearer picture with the dust settling, as the Russian star could get around $16 million per season on his next deal, according to Michael Russo from The Athletic.

On top of Kaprizov, two more stars are in need of extensions in Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid, and based on how the market works, if Kaprizov gets paid first, then Eichel and McDavid should follow suit with equal or greater value.

That could be a worrying trend for Matthews, even if the Toronto Maple Leafs don't have to worry about that until the summer of 2028. With how the salary cap is rising, it shouldn't be too much of a concern, but it's worth monitoring even 3 years down the road.

While we don't have the projections for the summer of 2028 yet, the cap is projected to increase from $95 to $104 million next year and then from $104 to $113.5 million in 2027. Suffice it to say, we could see the salary cap in and around $117-120 million in 2028, depending on the growth of the game.

If Kaprizov does indeed earn a contract paying him $16 million per season, and factoring in where things could be 2-3 years down the road, that would put Matthews in the driver's seat for a contract with an AAV somewhere in the range of $18-20 million range.

With only 6 current roster players signed through the 2028 season, there's going to be a lot of change and turnover in Toronto by the time they have to extend Matthews. However, one thing is for certain, and that is that Matthews will have the opportunity to be the highest paid earner once again, the next time he's due for an extension.