Quinn Hughes is in line to become one of the NHL’s biggest earners if the Minnesota Wild finish the extension they’re actively working on, with league chatter pointing to a three-year deal that could land in the $16 million to $18 million annual range.
That’s the shape of the conversation right now, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic, who reported that talks are still moving even if there’s no finish line in sight just yet. “They’re working on it, but a deal isn’t imminent,” Smith wrote, citing league sources. He added, “That doesn’t mean there should be a cause for concern.”
Minnesota has made Hughes its top offseason priority after landing the defenseman from the Vancouver Canucks in a blockbuster trade during the 2025-26 season. Smith said both sides are still focused on getting something done, and the expectation around the league is that the contract will run three years.
“What we’ve reported for a while is that the deal is likely to be for three years,” Smith wrote. “The contract projection is of an AAV in the $16-18 million range, depending on term.”
If that number holds, Hughes would join teammate Kirill Kaprizov near the top of the salary ladder. Kaprizov’s $17 million annual cap hit begins this season, putting Minnesota in the unusual position of potentially stacking two of the league’s most expensive contracts on the same roster.
Smith didn’t sugarcoat the cap squeeze that would create. “That would mean Minnesota would have a huge chunk of their cap in two players,” he wrote.
But he also made clear why the Wild are willing to live with it. “When you consider these are two of the league’s best players at their positions, and the going rate these days, this is a dilemma most GMs wouldn’t mind having.”
Hughes has backed up that kind of money with another elite season. He finished with 76 points in 74 regular-season games, led the league in average ice time at 27:44 per game, and then added 15 points in 11 playoff games for Minnesota.
He also delivered one of the defining moments of the 2026 Olympic gold medalist’s tournament, scoring the overtime winner against Sweden.
For now, the Wild are operating with very little cap flexibility, which makes this more of a structural puzzle than a question of whether the team wants Hughes around. He remains under contract through the 2026-27 season, giving Minnesota and Hughes time to sort out the details.
If the extension lands anywhere near the projected range, it would be a clear signal that the Wild see Hughes and Kaprizov as the core pieces meant to keep them in the contender conversation for years to come.
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