The Quinn Hughes contract situation is still stuck in neutral.
Elliotte Friedman of TSN reported that the Wild and Hughes have not been able to bridge the gap on either length or money for his next extension. Hughes is said to want a three-year deal with a high AAV, a structure that would line up with younger brother Jack Hughes’ contract expiration date.
Minnesota, though, has its own priorities. The Wild would like to keep Hughes beyond the years they gave up draft picks to get him, but that’s where the tension starts.
They’re already working with a roster packed with star power and limited cap space, and Hughes’ next deal figures to land at the top end of the market. The baseline begins at Connor Bedard’s $15 million AAV and could climb past Macklin Celebrini’s league-high $18 million AAV.
For Red Wings fans, the Hughes story is still one of those big “what if?” files.
The Michigan native was traded this past season from the Canucks to the Minnesota Wild, and plenty of people around Detroit wondered whether he might have wanted to end up in a Red Wings sweater. But former general manager Steve Yzerman wasn’t willing to make that move without a long-term extension already in place. Bill Guerin, by contrast, was willing to roll the dice - though with each passing report, that gamble looks more like a test of patience.
Whether it works out is still an open question.
Elsewhere in Detroit’s front office world, Sean Shapiro of Elite Prospects and ‘Shap Shots’ reported that the Red Wings have turned to TurnkeyZRG for their next executive search. The firm is known for sports talent placement work and was involved in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ most recent GM hire, John Chayka. Former Ilitch Sports executive Len Perna is the CEO of the firm.
There’s also a small offseason bright spot for Red Wings fans to keep an eye on: the ice.
The team’s center ice logo has been a talking point for fans and media, and after bringing back the word “Hockeytown” last year alongside a centennial season logo, the Red Wings appear set to lean into nostalgia again. This year, they’re expected to restore the “classic” center ice logo from the club’s golden years.
In Other News...
Red Wings May Have Made Alex DeBrincat Untouchable
A trade idea tying Alex DeBrincat to Edmonton has sparked plenty of conversation because it speaks directly to how Detroit views one of its most productive forwards. The proposal would send DeBrincat to the Oilers for Quinn Hutson, Kasperi Kapanen and a protected first-round pick, but the reaction around the Red Wings has made one thing pretty clear: this is not the kind of return that feels close to enough for a player many fans seem to see as part of the clubs core.
For Edmonton, the challenge may be less about interest than about price. If Detroits internal valuation of DeBrincat is anywhere near the sentiment coming from its fan base, the Red Wings would likely need a much stronger package to even consider moving him. That creates a familiar trade-board problem for the Oilers and any other suitor, because the gap between what a team is willing to offer and what Detroit believes DeBrincat is worth could be the difference between a serious negotiation and a nonstarter. [Read more 🡒]
Moritz Seider Just Strengthened His Case As Detroits Next Franchise Leader
Moritz Seider added another major line to his resume this week, earning The Hockey News Rod Langway Award as the NHLs best defensive defenseman for the 2025-26 season. It is another reminder of how central he has become to the Red Wings, with Seider logging all 82 games, skating more than 25 minutes a night and taking on top competition all season long.
For Detroit, the honor only sharpens the conversation around where Seiders rise leads next. He is already being viewed as the kind of player who can anchor a blue line for years, and the bigger picture now includes a possible Norris Trophy down the road and, eventually, the possibility that he wears the captains C for the Red Wings. [Read more 🡒]