The Minnesota Wild and Quinn Hughes are still at a contract impasse as August approaches.
No further. No real headway. The clock is ticking on one of hockey’s top defensemen, and there’s a lot of chatter.
In 74 games this season, Hughes scored 76 points, including 7 goals and 69 assists. That’s the sort of campaign that ought to make an extension straightforward.
It has, however, transformed into a riddle. Currently, his cap charge is $7,850,000, which is significantly less than what a point-maker of his caliber would typically receive on the free market.
Bill Guerin, the General Manager, discussed it personally. “I’m not going to get too far into it, but I have been talking to his camp all along,” Guerin said. “It takes time to work through these things since they are significant choices for both players and clubs.”
That’s the serene one. Hughes allegedly desires a short-term contract, which coincides with the time his brother Jack will be available again in New Jersey, according to the unsettling account.
Luke, Jack’s brother, has a $9,000,000 cap impact on the Devils. Minnesota is just one stop on the tour of the Hughes family business, which is beginning to resemble a package deal.
None of this is being hidden by The Wild. This season, they ended with 46-24-12, good for 104 points and 7th overall, and Hughes was a major factor in their playoff drive, accumulating 15 points in 11 postseason games.
The three-year demand that could separate Hughes from Minnesota
The Wild are reportedly seeking for a center like Dylan Larkin for a reason. It’s much easier to sell the pitch to Hughes if they acquire such a name.
Would you bet your franchise defenseman’s future on a rumor, though? Because that’s essentially what Minnesota is doing right now.
Here’s Bob’s take: letting one player’s family situation dictate roster building is a bad way to run a franchise, no matter how good that player is. The Wild need to build the team they want, then let Hughes decide if he wants in.
He’s 26, he quarterbacks the power play, and he’s not walking into free agency without suitors lining up. Minnesota knows it. That’s why they keep talking, and keep waiting.
The Wild have real pieces around him. Kirill Kaprizov, Matthew Boldy, Brock Faber. None of that guarantees Hughes signs for the long haul.
The louder the trade talk becomes, the more likely Guerin is unable to complete this before training camp. Once the noise starts, it seldom goes away silently.
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