Quinn Hughes’ next contract could end up shaping more than just his future with the Minnesota Wild. It may also help determine where Dylan Larkin lands.
Larkin’s trade demand includes three teams he would accept: Florida, Vegas and Minnesota. He holds a full no-trade clause, but reports say the Panthers and Golden Knights have already taken themselves out of the mix. That leaves Minnesota as the key name to watch - and Hughes is a big part of why.
The connection is simple enough. Hughes is one of the main reasons Larkin wants to go to the Wild, so his contract decision matters.
The Athletic’s Mike Russo reported that Hughes likely will re-sign, but wants a short-term deal. The thinking is that he wants a three-year contract so it lines up with brother Jack’s deal with the Devils.
The plan would be to give the brothers a shot at being together down the road, maybe in New Jersey, maybe somewhere else. Minnesota, though, wants a longer commitment.
The Wild may not have much choice. They paid a steep price to acquire Hughes, giving up four desirable assets, and they need him to stay in place.
If he does re-sign, the Larkin trade list can probably remain unchanged. From Detroit’s side, the hope is that Yzerman’s replacement will be more willing to consider draft picks or unproven prospects, or that a third team can be brought in to make a Minnesota deal work.
If Hughes instead reaches free agency next July, the picture could change again. In that case, it’s fair to wonder whether Larkin would be more open to a move to New Jersey, where he could play with Jack and Luke Hughes until Quinn arrives there in 2027-28. From the Red Wings’ point of view, New Jersey might also become the cleaner trade partner.
The Hughes brothers’ goal is clear, according to a post that said, “Not if-when. The Hughes brothers want to win a Stanley Cup together now, not in 3 years, not in 5, now, when Quinn and Jack are in the prime and Luke is ready to break out.
They see the Tkachuk bros playing together and they want the same. #NJDevils https://t.co/7Dj87iz1vc pic.twitter.com/Y7m0A6d7uU” and was posted by Singsy (@Singsy24) on August 13, 2026.
Detroit’s broader offseason picture remains unsettled. The club is still in an ownership-imposed trade freeze until a new director of hockey operations is hired, so there are no current Larkin talks.
The new hire will have plenty on the plate before training camp opens Sept. 17.
A few other items are worth keeping on the radar. Swedish defenseman Anton Johansson could show up in Detroit at some point this season. And the Mammoth, according to the report, see more in Sebastian Cossa than the Red Wings did after last season.
On the PWHL side, the expansion Detroit club signed two 2026 draft picks on Friday: goalie Andrea Brändli and defender Casey Borgiel. Brändli, a Swiss Olympian selected 15th overall, was the first goalie taken in the draft and Detroit’s first pick. Borgiel, a Port Huron player, became the team’s first Michigan draft choice.
Detroit general manager Manon Rheaume said, “We could not have asked for a better start to the draft by selecting an experienced goaltender like Andrea and a reliable defender like Casey in front of our hometown fans,” said PWHL Detroit General Manager Manon Rheaume. “Andrea’s performance at the Olympics showed the world that she is one of the best at her position and somebody who will make an immediate impact in the PWHL with her maturity and confidence.”
The Red Wings also announced some familiar names among this season’s promotional giveaways, including Nicklas Lidstrom, Sergei Fedorov and Scotty Bowman bobbleheads.
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