Quinn Hughes' exit plan from Minnesota is no longer being hidden
Photo credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet dropped a reminder this week that Minnesota Wild fans don't want to hear.
A source close to the situation told him the reason Quinn Hughes left the Vancouver Canucks hasn't changed.
He wants to play with his brothers.
"There is no question that Quinn Hughes is saying all the right things publicly, that he's open to staying and is happy in Minnesota. But, as one source told me, we can't forget why he left Vancouver...desire to one day play with his brothers."
- Nick Kypreos
- Nick Kypreos
Hughes is saying everything right publicly. He told reporters after the Wild's playoff exit that he's open to re-signing and genuinely likes Minnesota.
Agent Pat Brisson confirmed extension talks are on the table starting July 1.
But here's the detail nobody is connecting. Elliotte Friedman reported on the 32 Thoughts podcast that Hughes will likely sign a three-year deal.
That specific term isn't random. Jack Hughes' eight-year contract with the New Jersey Devils expires after the 2029-30 season.
A three-year extension in Minnesota would put both brothers on the open market in the same summer.
Bill Guerin isn't being fooled here. He almost certainly knows the timeline he's buying.
The three-year window Guerin is betting everything on
Guerin traded Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick to acquire Hughes from Vancouver last December. That's an entire prospect pipeline for one player.
Hughes delivered immediately with 53 points in 48 regular-season games and 15 points across 11 playoff contests.
The gamble only pays off if Minnesota reaches a Stanley Cup Final before 2030. Guerin is pairing Hughes with Kirill Kaprizov during both players' prime years and hoping three postseason runs are enough to break through.
Why the brothers angle isn't a risk - it's the contract itself
Brisson told reporters the Hughes brothers discuss their futures every offseason without exception.
He called a 2030 reunion a possibility and didn't deny the contract alignment was intentional.
The quiet part is already loud.
Minnesota isn't at risk of losing Quinn Hughes to some surprise decision. The exit date is written into the deal structure itself.
The only question left for Bill Guerin and the Wild is whether they can win a championship before the clock hits zero.
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