The Minnesota Wild have already gotten off to a great start in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup title, as they defeated the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 1 to take an early first-round lead. If the Wild and general manager Bill Guerin have showed anything, it's that they are going all-out to hoist the Stanley Cup. Their first move towards that goal was pulling off the blockbuster trade for defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks.
Hughes has been everything the Wild could have hoped for, as he's not only great defensively, but he's also a great playmaker on offense. That's why there were so many teams trying to trade for Hughes. But, Hughes is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2026-27 season.
Can the Wild do with Hughes like Kirill Kaprizov and sign him to a contract extension before hitting free agency.
It's been well-known that the Detroit Red Wings were trying their best to acquire Hughes, not only because of his stardom but due to his links to the state of Michigan. Red Wings insider Keith Gave revealed that Detroit and Vancouver had a trade in place centered around Hughes, but it all hinged on Hughes accepting a contract extension. Hughes declined to sign a extension, and thus the trade fell through, allowing the Wild to swoop in and finalize a trade that did not hinge on a new contract.
Wild fans have to expect Quinn Hughes to test free agency based on latest reporting
Remember when it felt as though Kaprizov was destined to hit free agency this upcoming summer? That all changed after Guerin successfully negotiated an eight-year, $136 million contract extension before the start of this season.
Given that it's rare for a player of Hughes' caliber to hit free agency, as he could get a feel for what teams can offer him financially, professionally, and personally. It's a difficult decision to make, even if a ton of money will be heading his way. So, it's not entirely a surprise that Hughes would turn down a deal with the Red Wings.
That could be interpreted as bad news for the Wild. But they do have an advantage. The Wild are currently in the playoffs and are legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup. Not only that, but Hughes is under contract for one more year. So, if the Wild win before his contract expires and he grows fond of the team and Minnesota, he could decide to stay instead of hitting free agency.
But even so, it feels as though a player of Hughes' caliber will want to test out all of his offers before making a long-term commitment, and that's understandable.
Through 48 regular season games, Hughes has five goals and 48 assists to his credit. In the Winter Olympics, Hughes scored one goal and recorded seven assists in six games to help Team USA win their first gold medal since 1980.
Hughes' contract status with the Wild will be worth monitoring this offseason, where he will officially be allowed to negotiate. First things first, the focus will be on the Stanley Cup Playoffs. From there, they
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