Quinn Hughes’ situation with the Minnesota Wild is starting to look messy in a way the Mikko Rantanen saga never quite did, and Elliotte Friedman says there’s one major reason the comparison only goes so far.
In his latest 32 Thoughts column, Friedman said he isn’t sure what to make of where things stand with Hughes. He laid out the same basic uncertainty everyone else is staring at: Hughes could sign with the Wild, or he could wait it out and head to free agency.
From Friedman’s view, Minnesota may not have a clear read on it either. He believes Hughes is focused on playing as well as he can, but the longer this drags on, the more it feels like he may not be extending.
That uncertainty is why some around the league have drawn a line between Hughes and Rantanen. The Carolina Hurricanes took a big swing on Rantanen, missed, and then flipped him for a package that helped them win a Stanley Cup.
It was the kind of aggressive pivot teams point to when they want to justify bold decisions. The question now is whether Minnesota could do something similar with Hughes.
Friedman said Carolina recognized it couldn’t keep waiting and moved Rantanen to the Dallas Stars for a nice haul. Minnesota, he suggested, might eventually face the same crossroads: push ahead with Hughes or move him for pieces that help keep the team competitive.
He pointed out that the Wild have never reached a Stanley Cup Final, have only made one Conference Final, and have just one playoff-round win in the last 12 seasons - that coming last season with Hughes in the lineup. The implication was clear: when will Minnesota have a better chance?
But there’s a flip side, too. If Hughes leaves and the Wild don’t end up winning, the decision will look foolish. Friedman said that was a risk Carolina was unwilling to take.
Still, the Rantanen comparison breaks down at a crucial point. Friedman noted that the gap between Hughes and what Minnesota might get back in a trade is much wider than the one between Rantanen and Logan Stankoven. And that matters.
The key difference, Friedman said, is that Rantanen gave Carolina a list of teams he would extend with, which helped create a market. Friedman wrote:
“Someone made another good point: Rantanen gave the Hurricanes teams he would extend with, allowing market creation. As promised, he immediately signed in Dallas.
Hughes has shown no inclination of doing that. He has been up-front and honest, making no guarantees.”
That leaves Minnesota in a tricky spot. The Wild may have to consider a trade, but any team serious about paying the price for Hughes would also be taking on the risk that he could walk away anyway.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Suddenly Look Like Kucherov's Best Fit For One Huge Reason
Nikita Kucherovs reported trade request out of Tampa Bay has instantly turned into one of the biggest what-ifs of the offseason, and the Hurricanes are right in the middle of the conversation. Elliotte Friedmans report has put several teams on the board, from Montreal to Dallas, Minnesota and Vegas, but Carolina stands out for a simple reason: it can offer the kind of competitive roster and organizational flexibility that makes a blockbuster feel at least plausible.
For Carolina, the appeal is obvious because this is a team built to chase a championship now, not just stockpile futures. The challenge, of course, is the price tag, and any serious pursuit would likely require a painful mix of young talent, established help and draft capital to even get Tampa Bay to listen. Montreal may have the assets to make a deal, but the divisional wrinkle complicates things, which is why the Hurricanes suddenly look like the cleanest fit if this situation keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Win Put A Growing Blue Jackets Roster Question In Focus
The Blue Jackets did not leave Carolina with points, but they did leave with a clearer look at the direction of their young core. In a 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes, Denton Mateychuk and Kent Johnson were among the players who helped drive a strong third-period push, with Mateychuk scoring his fourth goal of the season and Johnson continuing to lead Columbus with seven.
What stood out just as much was the lineup decision around Dmitri Voronkov, who was scratched for the third time this season. Columbus has been evaluating its roster as it tries to sort out which pieces fit long term, and Voronkovs status has become part of that conversation, even if nothing appears close on the transaction front yet. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Could Face One Massive Kucherov Decision
A major name has suddenly entered the trade conversation, and it could have ripple effects for Carolina if Tampa Bay decides to move Nikita Kucherov before the season gets much deeper. The Lightning winger is in the final year of his contract, and any deal involving a player of that caliber would instantly reshape the market around the Hurricanes and the rest of the Eastern Conference.
The wrinkle for Carolina is that this is not a simple open-market situation. Kucherovs no-trade protection gives him a say in where he could land, which narrows the list of realistic destinations and complicates any potential bidding war. For a Hurricanes team always looking to stay aggressive at the top of the conference, it is the kind of development worth watching closely, even if the path from rumor to actual move is still murky. [Read more 🡒]