Minnesota Wild's 3 Best Contracts of 2023-24

It doesn't seem like it is the year for the Minnesota Wild as a lot has went wrong, but with some of the good contracts they have, they should be much more competitive next season. Let's dive into the best contracts the Wild have this season, but keep in mind these are players not on entry-level contracts as those players are unable to make more just yet despite their large contributions.

Joel Eriksson Ek

The Wild absolutely got a steal when the team signed Joel Eriksson Ek to an eight-year deal at a cap hit of $5.25 million AAV. He is a top line center that plays the first or second line depending on line combinations the coach wants to run with. Wherever he plays, he has been effective with 30 goals and 61 points in 70 games. Eriksson Ek impacts the game all over the ice and is a strong two-way player that is also physical. The Wild have him on this contract for five more years.

Ryan Hartman

Ryan Hartman has already received an extension for his play while on his current contract and that extension sees a $2.3 million AAV increase over what the center is making now. Hartman is in the final year of a deal where his cap hit is $1.7 million AAV and he is a top-six forward for Minnesota. While he might not be able to replicate the season he had in 2021-22 where he scored 34 goals and 65 points, Hartman is still outplaying his contract by a wide margin with 19 goals and 42 points in 68 games.

Kirill Kaprizov

The Wild don't have many great contracts, and while Mats Zuccarello's contract is nice, I will argue that Kirill Kaprizov has the better contract for the Wild. He is younger and only getting better, the clear top player on the team with 37 goals and 84 points in 68 games, and the Wild would be a whole lot worse without him on the team. $9 million AAV is still an underpayment for one of the best and most dynamic players in the NHL, and the team has him for two more years on that cap hit.