NHL training camps open up next week and we already have some big news that could impact not only this year, but years to come.
One of the potential big names that could hit free agency next season is Minnesota Wild Winger Kirill Kaprizov. As you can see from the above tweets, his name has come up over the last few days in regards to his contract negotiations. Now, Wild GM Bill Guerin has come out and said he is not sure where this information came from but he knows it wasn’t from them or Kaprizov’s agent.
Is that the truth? It’s very rare that Frank Seravalli would report something without it having any legs to it. I think this is more of Guerin trying to do some damage control here as the Wild didn’t want this to get out.
There was also a report that the Wild asked Kaprizov to give them a list of teams to be traded to. That was shut down pretty quickly.
Now before it got shut down, it got everyone going and immediately talking about what a trade for Kaprizov could look like. So, I figured as someone that covers the Philadelphia Flyers why not explore this idea.
Look, I know damn well the likelyhood of this happening is very low. But, the Philadelphia Flyers are one of the teams that have everything the Minnesota Wild could be looking for in a return for Kaprizov. Again, that is if he is willing to waive his no trade clause and IF things have actually gotten sour between him and the Wild.
Kaprizov is a superstar in this league and you might not know that because he doesn’t get the same amount of attention as a guy like Connor McDavid. A lot of that has to do with him being in Minnesota and because he doesn’t have the same appeal to the casual fans like McDavid does. But he is a superstar.
Last season he only played in 45 games but had 25 goals and 31 assist. The three seasons before that he scored 40 or more goals in each of those. Safe to say when he is healthy he is a top 5 player in the NHL so trading for him won’t be cheap.
So let’s say Danny Briere decides he wants to go all in on Kaprizov. What exactly would the Flyers have to give up to get him. Well, it starts with at least two first round picks or at least one and a prospect that has close to or equal value to a first round pick. On top of those two assets you have to think they are going to want a top 6 player to come in right away to replace some of what they would be losing.
Right now the Flyers don’t need more depth at wing, they need Center depth and mainly a top line center. Sure, they traded for Trevor Zegras but will he work as a center here? So, in order to make a trade work organizational wise as well as cap wise they will have to part with someone in their top 6. As much as it pains me to even put it out there, it would more than likely be Owen Tippett as the guy shipped to Minnesota.
So right now you’re looking at Owen Tippett and a 2026 first round pick as the base of your trade package. That will not be enough for the Wild to give up Kaprizov so what else could the Flyers add.
Denver Barkey would be a guy that could intrigue Minnesota because he is only 20 years old but could be ready to make an impact at the NHL level. He also can play center or wing which would make him an ideal target for the Wild. Barkey is expected to have a strong training camp and could make a push to make the Flyers roster.
The final trade offer would most likely look like this:
Wild Receive: Owen Tippett, Denver Barkey, 2026 1st round pick, 2026 3rd round pick
Flyers Receive: Kirill Kaprizov, 2026 4th round pick
Again, this is all just a complete hypothetical and I have no information on if the Flyers would even consider making this kind of move. I’m strictly going full NHL 26 GM mode with this blog so relax boomers and idiots who don’t read.
The Kaprizov situation is very interesting especially if it turns out to be true that he turned down that rumored extension. If the rumors are true and they are going to be looking to trade him then Danny Briere should 1000% pick up the phone and see what it would take to get him.
Kirill Kaprizov and Matvei Michkov on the same line with the possibility of Connor McDavid coming here during free agency ;) ?!?!? Sign me up for that!
Do you think the Flyers would be interested in trading for Kaprizov? If you were the Flyers GM what would your trade offer be? Sound off in the comments.
-Walsh
The Philly Phan Cave 
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