The landscape of NHL contracts has completely shifted after the Colorado Avalanche announced that they were signing star defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year extension carrying a historic $20.4 million average annual value.
However, now, for Minnesota Wild fans, that staggering number immediately shifts the spotlight to their own star defenseman Quinn Hughes, whose upcoming contract negotiations stand as the next logical milestone to push the league ceiling even higher.
Hughes could get max AAV on his next contract
Hughes, 26, is entering the final season of the six-year contract he originally signed with the Vancouver Canucks. The deal carries a $7.85 million cap hit that looks to be one of the best bargains in hockey as we enter into the 2026-27 season.
After being traded to Minnesota in December of 2025, Hughes quickly showed off his elite pedigree by racking up 53 points in 48 regular-season games followed by another 15 points in 11 postseason games, helping the Wild get past the first round for the first time since 2015.
With Makar establishing a new financial tier just below the maximum allowable $20.8 million cap hit, Hughes and his representation now have a baseline for talks with Wild general manager Bill Guerin. While Minnesota already carries Kirill Kaprizov's $17 million cap hit, keeping a franchise cornerstone of Hughes' caliber is imperative.
Especially when there is the worry that he is going to leave when his contract is up. Guerin needs to find a way to pay him quickly before the September 15th CBA deadline. Which would only allow him to be signed to a seven-year deal, rather than eight. If he elects to sign that long with the Wild.
Regardless, whether Hughes signs a max-term extension to stay in Minnesota or his brother Jack joins him. Or the two team up with the New Jersey Devils. The writing is on the wall; if Guerin wants to sign Hughes, it isn’t just about how long anymore, it’s also about how much. And Hughes' next deal very well could be for the max AAV of $20.8 million a season.
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