Hall of Fame Defenseman Says Quinn Hughes 'Is Not Signing Extension At This Stage'

Now that Connor Hellebuyck is traded and up and playing again, the uncertainty of players like Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson and Quinn Hughes takes center stage again. In the case of Hughes, he made some comments this past weekend that still left many wondering just exactly what's going on with his pending UFA status.

His mixed messages included how much he loves it in Minnesota, and "something could get done soon", with "I'm not too sure". 

All this has led Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger, now an NHL insider, appearing on NHL Network Radio Wednesday morning, to suggest that he can't see Hughes signing an extension with the Wild before hitting unrestricted free agency July 1st.

He's gonna go to free agency. I think they know that... If you're Quinn Hughes, I don't think you're gonna sign a contract at this stage of the game. You're gonna play it out, try to win a Stanley Cup, and then see where things lead.

He figures they might have some "broad strokes" of what a contract might look like. But he doesn't see how a player could come this far to get his UFA rights and have the ability to make his own choice, and not go there.  

And if you're Wild GM Bill Guerin, says Pronger, he understands that, and he's still got a chance to convince Hughes to stay, if his team performs like he thinks it will.

(Guerin is saying,) 'We have a very good team, we have a Stanley Cup contender. I'm not going to trade this player.' The hope is that you win a Stanley Cup, and does that not put pressure on (Hughes) to think, 'Wow, we've really got something good here, I want to be here long-term'.

For his part, Hughes is having a banger of a contract year thus far, with 18 points in his first 14 games, playing over 27 minutes a night. And the Wild have the best record in the Western Conference, at 9-3-2 for 20 points. 

The final word here, from Pronger: "Just because a player gets to free agency doesn't mean he's gonna walk. It just means they have earned the right to have more choice."