Austin Konenski
Quinn Hughes has been an amazing fit with the Minnesota Wild. In Game 6 against the Dallas Stars, Hughes scored two goals and one assist, leading the Wild to its first series win since 2015. The 26-year-old defenseman has been outstanding since joining Minnesota, and one NHL insider dropped a bold prediction about his future.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes Hughes will sign a three-year contract extension with Minnesota, the insider predicted on the 32 Thoughts podcast. The Wild acquired Hughes in December after the Vancouver Canucks were told that he wouldn’t sign a contract extension with the organization.
It has been widely assumed that Hughes wants to join his brothers, Jack and Luke, with the New Jersey Devils, but Minnesota is closer to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Wild defenseman has also been linked to the Detroit Red Wings, but he has developed great chemistry with Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and Kirill Kaprizov.
If Hughes signed a three-year contract extension, it would line up with Jack Hughes‘ contract in New Jersey. Both players would become unrestricted free agents after the 2029-30 NHL season, allowing them to team up somewhere. Granted, this assumes Hughes actually signs an extension with the Wild.
Hughes has earned the right to become a free agent after the 2026-27 NHL season. While Minnesota makes sense for his chances of winning a Stanley Cup, the 26-year-old defenseman could be adamant on going home to Detroit or joining his brothers in New Jersey.
For now, Friedman believes Hughes will sign a three-year contract extension with Minnesota. Talk of Hughes leaving Minnesota will likely intensify after the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, the NHL should gain more clarity this summer, as Hughes will be eligible for an extension.
Read More: Inside the Detroit Red Wings’ Failed Pursuit of Quinn Hughes
