Meet the NHL's New Highest-Paid Player

The Minnesota Wild have signed Kirill Kaprizov to the richest contract in NHL history, at $136 million over eight years. General manager Bill Guerin announced the record-setting deal on Tuesday, reports the AP. Kaprizov will count $17 million against the salary cap beginning next season. That's the highest annual salary of any player since the league's cap era began in 2005, surpassing Auston Matthews' $13.25 million with Toronto.

The 28-year-old Russian left wing has notched 386 points in his five seasons with the Wild and holds multiple team records, reports NHL.com. Kaprizov has appeared in 25 Stanley Cup playoff games, though the franchise has yet to bring the trophy home. He was something of a bargain for the team as a fifth-round draft pick in 2015.