The Quinn Hughes and Nikita Kucherov contract situations are still sitting in the same place, even as other big-name stories around the league keep grabbing the spotlight.
That’s especially notable because both players were widely expected to have extensions wrapped up by now. For Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning, that assumption came with a familiar backdrop: GM Julien BriseBois has usually gotten business done on July 1.
But the market has shifted, and he has seen how things can change after watching what happened with Steve Stamkos a few seasons ago. The result, at least for now, is a different kind of standoff.
Hughes, meanwhile, has made it clear he wants to move on his own schedule. He has told the media he will do things on his time, and he remains in a wait-and-see mode while continuing to impact the lineup in Minnesota. GM Bill Guerin had hoped the deal would be finished by now, but there’s no sign of panic yet.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet discussed both situations during an appearance on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with Scott Laughlin and Gord Stellick. Asked what movement he was seeing on Hughes in Minnesota and Kucherov in Tampa Bay, Friedman said:
Scott Laughlin: “Anything moving as far as you can get a sense of with regards to Quinn Hughes with Minnesota and Nikita Kucherov with what I would assume would be an expected extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning.”
Elliotte Friedman: “In Hughes’ case, I just think that I think it’s all on him as, well, when he’s ready. Minnesota has let it be known that they’re willing to write a big check at basically whatever term Hughes wanted.
Right now, he just hasn’t done it. And I think Hughes, it’s basically in his court.
Like, when are you ready?
As for Kucherov, Friedman said that one is tougher to sort out. The issue, he explained, appears tied to how much the landscape has changed post-Leo Carlsson.
According to Friedman, there was likely a number in place before that, and then the picture shifted. The Lightning, he said, are still searching for the right number after that change.
Should there be concern? At this point, the answer seems to be no.
The expectation is still that when these extensions get done, the money will be significant. The wrinkle is that they may not be the long-term deals many people first imagined.
In Other News...
Wild Fans Suddenly Have A Real Reason To Watch Dylan Larkin
Dylan Larkin has quietly become one of the most intriguing names in the trade market for Minnesota fans to follow. NHL insider Michael Russo reported that talks involving Larkin and the Red Wings have moved forward, and the Minnesota Wild are among the destinations on the list of teams he would accept, which gives the whole situation real relevance for a club that is always looking to sharpen its roster around the edges.
Russo also said the latest buzz picked up after a recent conference call with Detroit, with multiple sources believing the process is moving toward some kind of resolution. Still, the official line out of the Red Wings remains calm for now, with senior vice president Jim Devellano saying Larkin and the team have reconciled and interim general manager Shawn Horcoff describing things as status quo, so the next move could come fast or simply fade back into the background. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Face A Quinn Hughes Problem They Cant Ignore
Quinn Hughes has become one of the more important names in Minnesota as the season moves on, and not just because of what he does on the blue line. The Wild have been publicly confident they can still keep him around, but the bigger picture is hard to miss: he is getting closer to unrestricted free agency, and there is still no extension in place.
For now, the organization is trying to project patience while the clock keeps ticking. Around the league, early trade chatter has already put Hughes in the middle of the conversation if talks do not gain traction, which is the kind of pressure a team would rather avoid on a player it sees as part of its core. The Wild clearly want this to end with a new contract, but the longer the stalemate lasts, the harder it becomes to ignore every possible outcome. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Get A Huge Blue Line Boost Right Before Calgary
A welcome bit of blue-line relief arrived just before the Wilds matchup with Calgary, as captain Jared Spurgeon is back on the active roster after missing four games with an upper-body injury. His return gives Minnesota an experienced presence on the back end at a time when every healthy defenseman matters, especially with a divisional game on deck.
To make room, the Wild sent defenseman Carson Lambos back to Iowa. Spurgeon is expected to be in the lineup against the Flames, which gives Minnesota a chance to stabilize its defense with one of its most trusted players back in the fold. [Read more 🡒]