Chris Pronger makes a concerning prediction about Quinn Hughes' future with the Wild
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Hall of Famer Chris Pronger expects Quinn Hughes to reach free agency instead of signing an extension with the Minnesota Wild this season.
Chris Pronger doesn't see Quinn Hughes signing a new deal in Minnesota anytime soon.
The Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman, now an NHL insider, said Wednesday on NHL Network Radio that he fully expects Hughes to reach unrestricted free agency on July 1, 2027, and that the Wild likely know it too.
Pronger's reasoning is pretty simple.
Hughes is in the final year of the six-year contract he signed with Vancouver, and it carries a $7.85 million cap hit.
In Pronger's view, a player who finally gets to pick his own destination isn't likely to hand that power back.
Hughes can finish the season, chase a championship, and make his call after that.
"He's gonna go to free agency. I think they know that... If you're Quinn Hughes, I don't think you're gonna sign a contract at this stage of the game. You're gonna play it out, try to win a Stanley Cup, and then see where things lead."
- Chris Pronger
- Chris Pronger
Guerin still has a pitch to make
Pronger also put himself in the shoes of Wild general manager Bill Guerin.
Guerin can tell Hughes that Minnesota is a real Stanley Cup contender and that he isn't moving his star defenseman.
The hope is that a deep playoff run makes Hughes want to stay long term.
Pronger added that hitting the open market doesn't guarantee a player walks away.
It simply opens up his options.
Hughes is delivering in a contract year
On the ice, Hughes is playing like a guy who's about to get paid.
He has 18 points through his first 14 games while logging more than 27 minutes a night, and the Wild are 9-3-2 with 20 points, the best record in the Western Conference.
Off the ice, he has kept that door cracked open.
He has talked up how much he enjoys Minnesota, though his latest comments on a deal sent mixed messages and left plenty of fans guessing.
Minnesota went all in to land him from Vancouver in December 2025, and the next few months will show whether that bet pays off with a signature.
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