With Kaprizov's contract, you're obviously projecting for him to have much bigger stats and to take a major leap, but Matthews has the hardware to prove that he deserves to be a top paid player, right behind Connor McDavid. As it currently stands, Matthews also has a Calder Trophy, but has one Hart Trophy and three Maurice "Rocket" Richard's to go with it. Not only that, but he's scored 60 goals twice in his career, including a 69-goal season.
As Kirill Kaprizov enters the final year of his contract, the hockey world has been waiting for news of a contract extension with the Minnesota Wild to drop -- but Kaprizov has reportedly turned down an offer that would have broken monetary records in the NHL. Right now, the highest-paid player in the league is Leon Draisaitl, who earns $14 million annually, whereas the largest contract in history was Alex Ovechkin's 13-year, $124 million deal signed back in 2008.
