Teams Keeping A Close Eye On Wild's Quinn Hughes Situation
Quinn Hughes remains unsigned beyond the 2026-27 season, and until the star defenseman either agrees to an extension or is dealt, rival teams will keep a close eye on the situation in Minnesota.
The good news for the Wild is that talks are finally heating up.
Negotiations Restarting
Per Michael Russo of The Athletic, GM Bill Guerin is meeting with Hughes and his camp in Michigan this week to restart contract discussions after a quiet stretch of the summer.
"Believe Bill Guerin will be meeting with Quinn Hughes and his camp in Michigan today/this week," Russo reported. "As we've long reported, Wild want to go 5-8 years."
Believe Bill Guerin will be meeting with Quinn Hughes and his camp in Michigan today/this week. As we've long reported, Wild want to go 5-8 years (7-year max term after Sept. 16 in new CBA). 3-year extension still makes most sense for Quinn so he can align with Jack's deal in NJ
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 28, 2026
There is a wrinkle in the term.
A seven-year maximum kicks in after September 16 under the new CBA, and Russo noted a three-year extension still makes the most sense for Hughes so he can align his next contract with his brother Jack's deal in New Jersey.
Why Teams Are Watching
The 26-year-old is a former Norris Trophy winner and widely considered the best defenseman in the NHL behind only Colorado's Cale Makar, exactly the kind of needle-moving talent that solidifies a contender.
He becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027, and there has long been buzz that Hughes wants to eventually play with his brothers, Jack and Luke, both of whom are under contract with the New Jersey Devils.
The Devils are reportedly one of the teams keeping a close eye on this situation.
Quinn Hughes could be on the verge of signing the richest contract in NHL history. 💰
— Hockey Patrol (@HockeyPatrol) July 29, 2026
The Minnesota Wild are reportedly set to meet with Hughes and his representatives this week as they begin working toward a long-term extension.
Hughes can become an unrestricted free agent… pic.twitter.com/F6izAgt6ps
Jack has three years left on his deal, while Luke is signed for six more seasons.
That family dynamic is the single biggest factor keeping outside teams interested, as the longer Minnesota goes without winning, the more incentive Hughes could have to look elsewhere.
His surprising exit from Vancouver last December, which fans later learned stemmed from a desire to leave, only adds to the intrigue.
Why The Wild Feel Good
Despite the outside noise, Minnesota is confident.
Wild owner Craig Leipold has suggested there is no reason to imagine a scenario where Hughes is not part of the organization, hinting the team knows something others do not.
Head coach John Hynes echoed that optimism, telling the Minnesota Star Tribune there are "a lot of good things where this is a really attractive place for him to want to be," pointing to Hughes's strong relationships with the coaching staff and with Guerin.
Hughes himself said at his end-of-season media availability that he is "definitely open to re-signing," expressing confidence in Guerin's ability to build a championship-caliber roster.
Trading for Hughes last season helped Minnesota reach the second round of the playoffs, its best result since 2014-15, and the belief internally is that his best path to winning runs through the Wild.
Wild's Offseason
Guerin has not landed the impact addition he wanted this summer, with Dylan Larkin still a target who may not get moved at all, and Minnesota's limited cap space narrowing the options.
That makes locking up Hughes the one major move the GM can still make to define his offseason.
The Wild will start next season carrying the second-largest contract in the league in Kirill Kaprizov at $17 million per year, and fitting a massive Hughes extension alongside it is its own challenge.
