Minnesota Wild fans are staring down a huge problem, because Quinn Hughes, a guy who just won a Norris Trophy, has no indication of serious contract talks happening with the team. Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast just dropped the bombshell: there hasn’t been “a ton of talks recently” between Hughes and the Wild as he barrels toward the final season of his current deal. We’re talking three weeks before training camps open, a month before the 2026-27 season kicks off, and this superstar defenseman’s future is totally up in the air. That’s a mess.
The Wild’s Risky Silence and a Costly Trade
Remember how the Wild even got Hughes? They snagged him from the Vancouver Canucks last December because he straight up told Vancouver he wouldn’t sign an extension. The Canucks got Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Öhgren, and a 2026 first-round pick (No. 24 overall) for him. That’s a hefty price tag, and now Minnesota is risking it all if they can’t get him locked down. It shows how badly they wanted him, and it makes this silence even more frustrating. The guy helped them win a playoff series last season, their first since 2015, and put up 69 assists, eighth-most in the league. You don’t let that kind of talent walk.
Hughes Wants Clarity, But At What Price?
Wild general manager Bill Guerin even called the New Jersey Devils about Quinn’s younger brother, Jack Hughes, back on July 2, trying to maybe entice Quinn into signing. No deal came of it, but the intent was clear. Quinn himself told reporters in May, right after the Wild got knocked out in the second round by the Colorado Avalanche, that he wants some clarity on his future. He’s “open” to an extension, saying, “I really like it here. I would definitely be open to re-signing. We’ll see what Billy wants to do.” But he also made it clear he wasn’t ready to dive into details just 36 hours after elimination. The big issue? Money. Hughes is currently the 35th highest-paid defenseman at $7.85 million per season on a deal he signed way back in October 2021. He’s absolutely blown past that value, especially after winning the Norris Trophy in 2023-24. Bowen Byram leads the D-men at $12.5 million annually, with guys like Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Drew Doughty all at $11 million. Hughes is worth way more than his current deal, and the Wild know it. They have to pay up.
This whole situation is a ticking clock for Minnesota. They open the 2026-27 regular season on October 1 against the Nashville Predators. With training camps just around the corner, they need to figure out their future with Quinn Hughes. Fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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