The Minnesota Wild didn't have the most eventful start to their offseason, as they are waiting and hoping they can strike a deal for a big name player. It's no secret that the Wild are pursuing Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. But by all reporting and indications, the Red Wings are holding off for a return they deem is worthy enough of giving up their captain, and the Wild simply haven't given them an enticing enough offer. So, it may very well take awhile until there is a solution to the Larkin trade saga, if there is one.
It appears that the Wild and general manager Bill Guerin took a shot out of left field to not only bring in a star, but someone that would win over star defenseman Quinn Hughes.
The Athletic's Michael Russo revealed that the Wild reached out to the New Jersey Devils about Jack Hughes, their star center and Quinn's younger brother.
Wild reached out to Devils about Jack Hughes trade
"What’s more, with so much offseason left, the Wild still feel they have the flexibility to pursue a top-line center, specifically Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. They have also called on New Jersey’s Jack Hughes — Quinn’s younger brother — although Larkin is the one they know remains available this offseason," writes Russo.
Look, the odds of the Devils trading their captain and No. 1 overall pick are as likely as getting hit by lightning...twice. For the Wild and Guerin, they were exploring every possible avenue at landing a No. 1 center. They obviously figured that maybe Jack would be enticed to play alongside his brother Quinn in Minnesota. As we all know, nothing has transpired between the two teams, and it's unlikely to happen at this stage.
Besides landing a No. 1 center, the Wild's priority this offseason is to sign Quinn to a contract extension. After acquiring Quinn in a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks back in December, the defenseman experienced playing on one of the top teams in the Western Conference and a playoff run that lasted two rounds. After the season, Quinn expressed an openness to signing a contract extension to remain in Minnesota. He is set to hit free agency at the end of the upcoming season.
The ongoing belief among reporters and insiders is that Quinn will sign a three-year contract extension with the Wild. The reasoning behind that term is so that it will line up with Jack's free agency, which happens after the 2029-30 season. The duo have long talked about playing on the same NHL team, and with both being free agents in the summer of 2030, that would be their best chance.
It appears that the Wild took a shot in the dark by reaching out to the Devils about acquring Jack. But, the focus on the Wild will be surrounding Larkin and if they can find a way to get the Red Wings and Yzerman to trade him to Minnesota.
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