Quinn Hughes in no rush to sign new deal with Minnesota

Minnesota Wild star Quinn Hughes is taking his time before signing a contract extension, though he expects negotiations with general manager Bill Guerin to pick up pace as training camp nears. Speaking to ESPN, the defenseman called the decision a major one and praised his experience in Minnesota, including his relationship with teammates and the atmosphere over the past season.

Hughes said the process is still ongoing and no final agreement has been reached, but expressed confidence that he and Guerin will work things out. Guerin himself has previously said publicly that he believes the club will be able to reach a new deal with Hughes.

Path to Minnesota

Hughes joined the Wild in December 2025 as part of a major trade in which the club gave up three former first-round draft picks along with its 2026 first-round pick. The 2024 Norris Trophy winner posted 53 points in 48 regular-season games with his new team, including five goals and 48 assists. In the playoffs, the Wild defeated the Dallas Stars in the first round before falling to the Colorado Avalanche in the second.

A raise on the horizon

Hughes is entering the final season of a six-year, $47.1 million contract carrying an average annual value of $7.85 million. Market trends point to a significant raise ahead: this summer Cale Makar signed an eight-year extension with the Avalanche worth an average of $20.4 million per season, making him the first NHL player to top $20 million annually. Next season's maximum allowable salary for a single player will be $20.8 million, while Kirill Kaprizov currently tops the Wild's payroll at $17 million per season.

Hughes said most of the factors he is weighing are personal and he intends to keep them private, but stressed that winning the Stanley Cup remains his top priority. His brothers Jack and Luke Hughes play for the New Jersey Devils, and all three have previously spoken about their shared dream of one day playing together. According to ESPN, there has been talk in league circles that Hughes could opt for a three-year extension, which would make him a free agent in the same year as Jack, in 2030.