Quinn Hughes’ next contract has become one of the league’s most closely watched situations, and the wait may have less to do with Minnesota than with Cale Makar.
Hughes is eligible for an extension, and the Wild want to keep him. But the shape of the deal - both term and money - still appears to be unsettled. League chatter has suggested the two sides are working through those details, while the bigger question hangs over everything: is Hughes in no rush because he wants to see what Makar does first?
That makes sense when you look at where both defensemen sit in the market. Hughes and Makar are at the top of the NHL’s pay scale for blueliners, and Makar is widely viewed as the only defenseman in Hughes’ class.
Whatever Makar signs for is going to help set the ceiling for elite defensemen. If Makar lands a massive contract, Hughes has a clean argument that he should be paid right there with him.
If Makar comes in lower than expected, Hughes has to weigh maximum value against the possibility of a shorter-term compromise.
This is where timing becomes everything. Hughes isn’t just trying to stay with Minnesota; he’s trying to catch the market at the strongest possible point before his leverage changes. The Wild are reportedly open to a long-term arrangement, but there’s also a belief that Hughes could prefer something shorter - maybe three or four years - so he can get back to the table sooner and possibly benefit from a higher salary cap later.
The financial range being discussed tells you why the wait matters. Recent projections and reports have put Hughes somewhere between $15 and $18 million per year, with some models going even higher depending on term and market conditions. At that level, even a small shift in the comparable contracts can mean millions over the life of the deal.
None of that means Hughes is trying to leave Minnesota. The Wild have reportedly been active in talks with his camp, and owner Craig Leipold has publicly said he expects a re-signing to happen. Hughes has also said he’s open to staying, so this doesn’t look like a case of a player using silence to force his way out.
What it does look like is a player protecting his options. Minnesota can offer stability and a big role, and the team clearly values him.
But if Hughes signs before Makar resets the market, he risks walking away from money he could have had. That risk only grows if Makar’s deal becomes the standard other top defensemen use in their own negotiations.
If Makar signs for a huge number, Hughes’ camp can point to that deal and push even harder on annual value. If Makar chooses a shorter term or lands below what many expect, Hughes has a tougher call to make.
He can still aim for the top of the market, but the cleanest leverage point would be gone. That’s why the next few weeks loom so large.
This feels less like a standoff and more like a pause before the real action starts. Hughes doesn’t seem to be shutting the door on Minnesota. He may just be waiting for Makar to move first so he can sign the right deal, not simply the first one.
In Other News...
Wild May Have Finally Made The Hard Choice Kaprizov Needed
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The more interesting part may be what the decision says about the direction the Wild want to take around Kirill Kaprizov. General manager Bill Guerin said he did not ask Kaprizov for input, a deliberate choice aimed at keeping players out of uncomfortable territory, and it hints at a front office willing to make hard roster calls without leaning on its best scorer for cover. However this looks in the fall, the team is betting that the new mix can replace not just Zuccarellos points, but some of the old habits that came with them. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Guerin Hinted The Wild Could Solve This Roster Need Differently
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Guerin also pointed back to the earlier Quinn Hughes trade as a reminder that the plan can change quickly if the right opportunity surfaces. That kind of flexibility matters for a team trying to push deeper into the lineup without forcing a move just to fill a specific hole. For now, the Wild are still in exploration mode, and the real question is whether the next swing comes at center or somewhere else entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Danila Yurov Could Decide Minnesotas Biggest Kirill Kaprizov Question
The Wild still have a major question hanging over the top of their lineup, and it starts with who can best skate next to Kirill Kaprizov. With Mats Zuccarello gone and no clear replacement yet secured for that top-line center role, Minnesota is left weighing familiar stopgaps against a much less certain but potentially more revealing option in Danila Yurov, whose rookie season showed enough promise to keep him firmly in the conversation.
Yurovs case is less about what he already is than what the Wild need to learn about him. Giving him a real look with Kaprizov would not only answer whether he can handle that kind of responsibility, it could also clarify his long-term fit in a lineup that still needs a stable partner for its best winger. Ryan Hartman remains part of the discussion, but if Minnesota is serious about finding a more permanent answer, the most important evaluation may come from putting Yurov in the spot everyone else is trying to fill. [Read more 🡒]