The Minnesota Wild are trying to stay patient on Quinn Hughes, even if the clock is already getting loud in the background.
According to Pierre LeBrun on TSN, GM Bill Guerin has been in touch several times this offseason with Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, as the Wild wait for the defenseman to decide whether he’s ready to move forward on a contract extension or let the season unfold first. LeBrun said that if Hughes does become open to talking, the deal itself shouldn’t take long to work out.
“It’s just that he’s just not ready yet. I think the Wild have to be careful not to put too much pressure on the situation. There’s lots of time between now and July 1st, but not ideal to start the season if you’re Minnesota after what you gave up to Vancouver for Quinn Hughes that your franchise defenceman is not yet extended.”
In Detroit, the Red Wings are dealing with a different kind of stalemate involving RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson. He’s back in Sweden skating with Frolunda, and LeBrun said teams around the league have been checking in with the Red Wings to let them know they’d be interested if Detroit ever decided to move him.
For now, though, the Red Wings’ interim GM Shaun Horcoff is still working toward a contract.
“Where is this at? Well, my sense is that the player’s agent, J.P.
Barry, has presented a number of recent options and left them with Sean Horcoff. They’re sitting on the table for the Detroit interim GM.
Both sides continue to talk on a daily basis. Not an easy situation, but both sides are still at it.”
In Pittsburgh, there’s no rush to force a Sidney Crosby extension over the finish line. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said that once a player reaches this stage of his career, the process shifts away from hard deadlines and toward making sure everyone is comfortable with where things are headed.
Dubas said, “From our end, internally, Pat (Brisson) and I talk a lot (about his players). It’s always an open back-and-forth, and we don’t feel any pressure to get it done by a certain date.”
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What makes this season linger a little differently is the sense that Detroits direction may not be settled for long. With several players under 25 giving the lineup its edge and energy, the club also enters the year with veterans drawing plenty of outside attention as the trade deadline approaches, a reality that could touch a number of familiar names if the season takes a certain turn. For a team trying to climb while also managing its future, the first game is only the beginning of a much larger conversation. [Read more 🡒]