Quinn Hughes Will Make a Decision on His Future on His Terms

As the NHL season gets underway on Tuesday, September 29th, the hockey world is waiting to see how the situation between the Minnesota Wild and defenseman Quinn Hughes will play out.

As documented, he will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, 2027, as he begins the 2026-27 season in the final year of a six-year, $47.1 million deal with a $7.85 million AAV. There is no doubt he will get a hefty raise from that number. Given what Cale Makar just got with the Colorado Avalanche, setting a record for any player at $20.4 million a season, the market has been set for the second-best defenseman in the NHL.

While many assumed a contract would have been agreed to already, given he has been eligible for an extension since July 1st, 2026, he wasn’t signing right away. With training camp and the preseason, the parties are still talking, and nothing has been agreed to yet.

As Quinn Hughes reiterated throughout the North American Player Tour and at the start of training camp, as documented on Full Press Hockey, he is comfortable with where things are in the negotiation process and isn’t stressed that he hasn’t signed an extension yet.

“I wouldn’t say there’s any issues here,” Hughes said. “I just think that we’re going through the process, specifically myself, and just taking the time. I don’t feel pressure to do anything. I’m really happy here. I love the guys. I love the team. And I fit in really well. Obviously there’s a draw to playing with (my brothers) at some point. But I think Jack said it perfectly at the recent NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour: I’m not going to sacrifice a great spot for me to play … with them.”

When Quinn Hughes is ready, he will let the world know. Everything remains on his time and terms. As he said during the North American NHL Media Player Tour, this will happen whenever he feels like it.

“This is going to be done whenever I feel like it needs to be done. I don’t feel backed up against a wall. I’m very thoughtful,” Quinn Hughes told the media at the North America Media Player Tour. “I want to make sure I’m taking my time on everything and make sure I’m making a decision that is going to be good for everyone. 

The one thing the Wild have going for them is that Quinn Hughes is open to extending in Minnesota. The defenseman has spoken openly about how much he loves the team and the players. He has also spoken glowingly about the general manager. As Full Press Hockey has documented, Quinn Hughes praised Guerin for having the guts to trade for him in December 2025. So he’s clearly open to staying there and doesn’t need to be sold on the team.

“Of course it’s a spot I could see myself staying,” Quinn Hughes told the media when asked if he could see himself extending in Minnesota. “I mean, obviously.”

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But General Manager Bill Guerin keeps reiterating that this negotiation is a process. Many factors go into these negotiations. However, as he told the NHL on TNT crew on Friday by doubling down on his position, this isn’t going to happen overnight.  It is a big decision not just for Quinn Hughes, but for all players.

“Like I’ve said before, like with Kirill last year, Quinn this year. These are big decisions for players. They put a lot of thought into it. Quinn’s a very thoughtful guy. He’s going through the process in his mind,” Guerin said. “What’s going to be best for him in his life? Where does he want to be? All those things go into it. It’s no different than Kirill, no different than any other player. So we’re trying to allow him the time, not to put too much pressure on him. He knows where we stand. We want him here for a long, long time. He’s a big part of our team, big part of our core. But again, these things take time.”

Some will point to the change of tone around the team. Wild GM Bill Guerin hasn’t guaranteed anything this time around. Unlike the Kirill Kaprizov negotiations, where Guerin and owner Craig Leipold said we’d give Kaprizov whatever he wants to stay. Leipold has been more forthcoming, stating on multiple occasions that the Wild will sign Quinn Hughes.

Again, this is a big decision. Quinn Hughes has earned that right. However, one factor in the negotiation remains the Hughes Brothers playing together. It has been a thing for over a year, given what former Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations and current senior advisor Jim Rutherford said in spring 2025: Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes.

However, the eldest Hughes brother wanted out of Vancouver long before Rutherford’s infamous press conference. Teams called him about Quinn Hughes, as the player didn’t ask for a trade, but was tired of all the drama the Canucks brought on themselves.

Now Jack Hughes and his brother Quinn’s stance has changed from a year ago, now that they won the Gold Medal at the 2026 Olympics with Team USA. So they got to win a gold medal together. So maybe the urge isn’t there as it was last year. As the brothers have stated, one brother shouldn’t sacrifice what is best for himself to play with the other two.

So everyone will point to this, given the money is there for Quinn Hughes. There is no doubt the Wild will match the Cale Makar $20.4 million AAV, but does the player want that? Does he want more? Does he want to know he is going to a team that wins?

As Quinn Hughes’ representative has stated, the player is taking a wait-and-see approach. Everyone knows the Minnesota Wild need a center. Bill Guerin isn’t afraid to upgrade his team at any position.

In addition, Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings wants out, and Minnesota is his first choice. Now the Wild don’t have much to offer the Red Wings in terms of NHL players. But Larkin and Quinn Hughes are buddies, and Larkin wants to go somewhere he thinks he can win. Playing on the same team as your friend is a perk.

So a lot hinges on what happens in Minnesota with Hughes and the Wild. If you are a Wild fan who is panicking, remember Kirill Kaprizov signed his extension on September 30th, 2025. So there is still time to get this done. It may not happen before the season, but there is time.

Quinn Hughes is in no rush or pressure to do this. The longer this drags on, the bigger the story becomes, as it will not stop people from talking about what he is going to do. This could drag out until next summer if the player wanted to. Not sure the Minnesota Wild want that. But it is a new era in the NHL where the players have the power.

One thing is clear: when Quinn Hughes is ready to sign his extension, the Wild are ready to accept it. As he said once, once they finish negotiating, things could move quickly. Remember, one phone call changes everything.

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