Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild are about to sit down again. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that Wild GM Bill Guerin plans to meet with Hughes and his camp in Michigan this week. And the big question isn’t about money — it’s about time.
Kirill Kaprizov already has his massive $17 million per year deal locked in for eight seasons. That’s the second-largest contract in the league starting in 2026-27. So Minnesota knows they can pay top dollar. But Hughes is the next domino, and the length of his new deal could reshape the franchise for years.
The Three-Year Bridge Makes Sense for Quinn
Russo has reported that the Wild are open to offering anywhere from five to eight years, with a seven-year max term possible under the new CBA after September 16. But the buzz around the league keeps pointing to a three-year extension. That would align Quinn’s free agency with his brother Jack’s in New Jersey, making a potential reunion feel less like a fantasy and more like a real possibility.
This isn’t just family sentiment. Quinn and Jack both played huge roles in Team USA’s gold medal win at the Olympics, scoring overtime goals. Guerin was the GM of that team. He saw what these two can do together. So the Wild front office knows the magic is real. But can they actually pull it off?
Cap Problems and a Brothers Scenario
Minnesota traded three top prospects and a first-round pick to Vancouver for Hughes back in December. That’s a lot to give up. They’d love to keep him forever. But the math gets ugly fast. Kaprizov takes up a massive chunk of the cap. Quinn’s next deal likely starts at $9 million or more. Add in the rest of the roster and fitting Jack Hughes too would require some kind of salary cap alchemy.
And don’t forget Luke Hughes is already signed long-term in New Jersey. The Devils have the cap flexibility, the brothers already on the roster, and the infrastructure to make a Hughes brothers trio work. It’s the obvious landing spot if Quinn wants to play with his siblings.
The Wild, for their part, might try to sell Quinn on winning a Stanley Cup in Minnesota. They’ve got a strong core, a great coach, and a passionate fanbase. But if Quinn values playing with Jack and Luke above all else, three years gives him that exit ramp. Guerin knows it. That’s probably why he’s flying to Michigan to get this done before the offseason really heats up.
Nothing is signed yet. But the clock is ticking, and the stakes are high for both sides.
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