Bill Guerin And The Wild Just Screwed The Colorado Avalanche

Necas, Makar will now cost a lot more

If you’re just waking up, the news from Minnesota this morning: Kirill Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million contract extension with the Wild. That’s a cap average of $17 million per season. That is now the richest contract in NHL history. Photos of Wild GM Bill Guerin and Kaprizov are all over the Wild website right now.

And, that, has now just screwed the Colorado Avalanche’s payroll. No, not just yet. Martin Necas’ cap hit is “only” $6.5 million this season, and any extension he might sign won’t change that. Cale Makar’s cap hit of $9 million can’t change in either of this or next season. He’s got two years left on his current deal.

But, the near-term future? Ah, yes, the Avs are now going to have to pay a LOT more to keep Necas and Makar on their team for the long term. Teams always have to budget a year ahead with their top players, at the risk of losing them for nothing as a UFA.