LAKE ELMO, Minn. — Before Kirill Kaprizov teed off Monday on hole No. 10 at Royal Golf Club for the Minnesota Wild’s annual preseason golf outing, he got a visit from a few of the team’s VIPs.

Owner Craig Leipold, who wasn’t golfing this year, and CEO Matt Majka caught up with the superstar. The group was all smiles, especially when the local media arrived at around the same time.

In any other year, this wouldn’t catch much attention. Leipold always attends the event.

But this isn’t any other year, and Kaprizov isn’t just any player.

Last week, news broke that Kaprizov turned down the Wild’s eight-year, $128 million offer ($16 million average annual value). It would have been the largest deal in NHL history. With Kaprizov entering the last year of his contract, this is one of the biggest storylines entering the NHL season, and definitely the biggest in Wild training camp, which opens Thursday at TRIA Rink. Kaprizov, 28, is the best player in franchise history, and negotiations seem stalled, at least for now.

Kaprizov wasn’t available to the media Monday but is expected to address reporters Thursday after the first day of training camp.  Teammates on Monday expressed confidence and optimism that something will get done with the three-time 40-goal scorer.

“He’s a franchise player,” alternate captain Marcus Foligno said. “He’s so special, and those guys, you can’t let go, right? It’s going to take time. You look at a lot of the superstars in the league. It’s going to take time. (There are) things they have to go back and forth with. We’re positive that he’ll be around, knowing he’s just focused on the next game and how to win as a team this season.”

This was potentially an awkward situation, with the initial report dropping during Wednesday’s captain’s skate at TRIA. Foligno said that in talking to Kaprizov every day, “He doesn’t get fazed by that stuff. I’m sure he gets tired of talking about it.”

Captain Jared Spurgeon didn’t think it’d be a distraction.

“It’s the business side of things,” he said. “It’s up to (president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin) and him to go through that stuff. It doesn’t affect us. Everyone goes through it in their career. And everyone has those years where you’re coming into a contract negotiation. We’d love to have him here as long as he wants.”

Leipold said two weeks ago that he felt the Wild and Kaprizov were “not that far off” on a contract that would likely be the “biggest in the NHL ever.” Kaprizov last addressed his status and contract in early May at the end of the Wild’s season, saying that he “loves it here” and that negotiations “should be all good.”

That’s the same sentiment he’s been giving teammates, Foligno said.

“He doesn’t need the lights or all that stuff,” Foligno said. “He’s Kirill, man. He’s low-maintenance. He’s excited to be here. He loves everything about Minnesota. He loves the guys, and we love him. I’m sure it’ll work out for everyone.”

(Photo of Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Foligno: Matt Blewett / USA Today)