Quinn Hughes contract talks reach the next stage as the Wild make their feelings clear
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The Minnesota Wild remain optimistic they will find common ground with Quinn Hughes, even as the two sides work through the final details of a record extension.
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, speaking on Sekeres and Price, sources close to the organization believe an agreement is still very much in reach.
Talking to people close to the team, they still feel confident that they'll be able to get something done. What that something is, we don't know yet.
Where Talks Stand
Hughes became extension-eligible on July 1 and has spent the summer working through negotiations with general manager Bill Guerin.
Reports have pointed to an annual value starting around $17 million, with some suggesting the number could climb closer to the range set by Cale Makar's record eight-year, $163.2 million deal in Colorado.
Term remains the bigger question mark, with earlier reporting floating a three- to four-year bridge rather than a long-term commitment.
Why the Clock Matters
The uncertainty carries extra weight with training camp approaching and a new CBA rule limiting team-issued extensions to seven years starting September 16.
That deadline has already pushed other stars, including Makar, to get deals done early, and it adds pressure for both sides to find a number soon.
Guerin has publicly downplayed any tension, calling communication with Hughes' camp "good" while acknowledging these things take time.
Whether that translates into a signed deal before the season opens remains the question hanging over Minnesota's roster.
If the Wild cannot get this done, then the team will be having some uncomfortable conversations about what the future will look like.
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