Kirill Kaprizov Would Be A Great Target For Blackhawks In 2026

By now, you’ve heard the story relating Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov to the Chicago Blackhawks. That rumor has since been shut down but the idea of him playing for the Blackhawks one day is certainly interesting.

Kaprizov is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2025-26 NHL Season. The Blackhawks should target someone like Kaprizov if he is available at the time. There will be other good free agents to consider but he may be near the top of the list.

There is no doubt that signing Kaprizov would be a great move for Kyle Davidson. He is someone who can change the game on one shift. If he were put on a line with Connor Bedard, they’d have instant chemistry. They both have a shooting mentality but can also make plays for others using their hockey IQs.

Kaprizov has 160 goals and 170 assists for 330 points in 278 games. At 27 years old, a ton of great hockey is left for him. He came to the NHL a bit late out of Russia but he was worth the wait for the Wild. Since signing with the team that drafted him, Kaprizov has been one of the best offensive players in the league.

What is it about Kaprizov’s game that makes him so attractive? It starts with his ability to always make the smart decision when the puck is on his stick. You rarely see him make a mistake when he’s in those situations.

Kaprizov knows when to shoot and when to look for a teammate. There is a reason that he only has ten more assists than goals in his career. His offensive game is balanced and that makes him hard to defend? Is he going to pass it to his teammate who joined him on the rush or is he going to shoot it past the goalies’ ear?

If the Wild do let him hit free agency, the Hawks might consider something like that. They will be in on free agents in the coming years simply because Connor Bedard is there. Wingers looking for an elite centerman to play with love centers like that.

Think of the way that Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon have made people want to go to their teams in the past. Bedard is talented enough to be that player and projects to be a top-tier talent. The Hawks would be doing a disservice to him and his career potential if they don’t be active with his surroundings.

A lot of teams will be pursuing Kaprizov if he did become a free agent in 2026. Any team that is looking to take a step forward offensively needs guys like him. It will not be a cheap contract and there will be some risk based on the term but he is talented enough to make it worth it for most of the contract.

The Blackhawks capped off their last successful rebuild with the signing of Marian Hossa. He played a big role in all of the championship-winning that they did. If they made another huge move like that to cap off this rebuild, they might get the results they want.