Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold stated that the team is committed to signing defenseman Quinn Hughes to a long-term contract extension. Hughes is eligible to sign a new deal starting July 1, as he enters the final season of his current six-year, $47.1 million contract.
"First of all, Quinn Hughes is an extraordinary player and an extraordinary person," Leipold said in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio. "We had to give up a lot to get him in this past year. We are going to re-sign him. The question will be for how long."
Leipold indicated that the team would prefer a longer-term deal, potentially five years, while Hughes might aim for a shorter period, such as three years. He noted that he is not directly involved in the negotiations. The Wild acquired Hughes in December from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade that sent Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick to Vancouver.
General Manager Bill Guerin echoed Leipold's sentiment, identifying the re-signing of Hughes as the offseason's top priority. "We loved having Quinn," Guerin said. "He was so impactful, he’s extremely dialed in on what’s going on here. I know he liked it here, I know he likes the team. The team really embraced him. I love having him here, and the impact that he had on our team was incredible."
Hughes made an immediate impact after joining the Wild, recording 53 points in 48 games. He also contributed significantly to the team's playoff run, tallying 15 points, which tied him with teammate Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild's season concluded with a second-round elimination by the Colorado Avalanche.
Speculation surrounding Hughes's future has been fueled by his connection to the New Jersey Devils, where his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes, play. Former Vancouver general manager Jim Rutherford had previously suggested last offseason that Hughes was interested in playing with his siblings. This offseason has also seen other prominent American-born players, such as Brady Tkachuk, Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, and Zach Werenski, involved in trade rumors or transactions.