Quinn Hughes sends blunt message about his Wild future amid mounting pressure
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Quinn Hughes is done letting outside noise dictate his next move, and his message about his Wild future is blunt.
Quinn Hughes is not interested in making anyone else comfortable while he sorts out his future in Minnesota.
The Wild defenseman has one season remaining on his current deal before he can hit unrestricted free agency next summer, and the questions about where he lands long term have followed him everywhere this offseason.
Instead of dodging the topic, Hughes addressed it head on, making it clear that whatever decision he makes will be based on what works for him, not on easing anyone else's anxiety about the outcome.
"It is my life" echoes through everything Hughes has said about this situation so far.
He has stressed that he considers himself a thoughtful person who weighs decisions carefully, but he is not going to rush a process just to calm down a fan base or satisfy outside expectations before he is ready.
"It is my life. I'm not going to do anything to make someone else happy. Obviously, I like to think of myself as a thoughtful person ... I think that everyone's got to do whatever makes them happy and where the chips fall they fall."
- Quinn Hughes
- Quinn Hughes
Why the timeline matters
Minnesota traded for Hughes last December in one of the biggest deals in recent memory, sending a significant package north to Vancouver in the process.
The Wild have made it known they want him long term, but nothing is guaranteed until a new contract is actually signed, and Hughes has not shown any urgency to speed that up despite growing outside pressure.
General manager Bill Guerin has publicly stated he is comfortable letting the process play out, trusting that patience will pay off in the end.
That approach lines up with how Hughes himself described things, suggesting both sides are in no rush despite the constant chatter surrounding the situation around the franchise.
What comes next for the Wild
Until a deal gets done, every Hughes interview will be picked apart for clues about where his head is at.
For now, the star defenseman insists he is simply doing what feels right to him personally, and letting everything else fall into place around that decision.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Sportsnet quietly fires fan-favorite analyst from NHL panel - and fans are furious
Sportsnet quietly fires fan-favorite analyst from NHL panel - and fans are furious