Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold offered a clear look at how rising salary-cap numbers may reshape the way NHL teams operate, even those already willing to spend big.The league’s projected cap jumps are massive. The upper limit has risen from $88 million to $95.5 million this season, then it is expected to rise to $104 million and $113.5 million in the following two years. For a team like Minnesota, built around young core players and one marquee star, that shift could change how they manage future extensions and depth moves.Speaking at the Board of Governors meeting, Leipold said teams will soon need to reconsider how aggressively they push to the upper limit.“Probably about 90 percent of the teams (historically) plan to go to the cap, but it’s going to change," Leipold said, via The Athletic. "The cap’s going up, and it will cause us and other teams to look at, ‘Is this the right number for us?’ And if not, we’ve got to make the right decision."Leipold's comments come months after the Wild locked in star winger Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136 million contract that begins in 2026-27.Kaprizov remains the centerpiece of the roster, leading the Wild with 18 goals and 34 points through 31 games. His heavy minutes and control on the power play continue to shape their attack. Minnesota sits 17-9-5, third in the Central Division, leaning on improved defending, steadier goaltending from Jesper Wallstedt, and balanced offensive support from Matt Boldy.With cap space projected to jump leaguewide, the Wild face a key question about remaining competitive while keeping their roster flexible. Leipold’s remarks show they intend to navigate the new landscape with more caution, even as their franchise player settles in for the long haul.Minnesota Wild's strong win against DallasThe Minnesota Wild snapped the Dallas Stars’ 11-game point streak with a sharp, disciplined 5-2 win at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday. Matt Boldy led the push with a goal and two assists, while Marcus Johansson scored twice and Joel Eriksson Ek added a goal and an assist.Minnesota controlled long stretches at five-on-five and pushed back each time Dallas threatened. Coach John Hynes praised the performance afterward."I thought it was a really solid game," Hynes said, via NHL. "I thought we didn’t have any passengers tonight. I thought everyone contributed... our competitive level was where it needed to be... that’s a good recipe to win a game"Minnesota executed the type of complete effort needed against a top opponent like Dallas.