Quinn Hughes in no rush to sign new contract with Wild before camp

LAS VEGAS -- Quinn Hughes said he will take his time before signing his next contract, and the Minnesota Wild defenseman is in no rush to get it done prior to training camp.

Hughes has one year left on a six-year, $47.1 million contract ($7.85 million average annual value) that he signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 3, 2021. The 26-year-old has been eligible to sign a new contract with the Wild since July 1 and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.

"This is going to be done whenever I feel like it needs to be done," Hughes said at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Wednesday. "I don't feel backed up against a wall. I'm very thoughtful. I want to make sure I'm taking my time on everything and make sure I'm making a decision that is going to be good for everyone. That's kind of where my head has been at."

Wild general manager Bill Guerin said on Aug. 31 that he's "confident" the team will re-sign Hughes to a contract, which would begin next season.

"That's the luxury I have of being on the inside," Guerin said on "Judd's Hockey Show" on SKOR North Radio from the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 31. "There's always the other side of it. I can be confident, you can be insecure, you just have to work through the process of the negotiations, figuring out what the player wants, what it will take to keep him, make him happy."

Hughes is expected to command an annual salary similar to or greater than the League record $20.4 million AAV that defenseman Cale Makar received in the eight-year, $163.2 million contract he signed with the Colorado Avalanche on Aug. 29.

"We haven't had that many conversations just because of how I wanted my summer to go in terms of being fresh and resetting and enjoying and training and being around friends and family," Hughes said. "As we get going here, I'm sure it'll heat up, but I don't feel backed up against a wall where I have to sign before camp."

NHL training camps open next week. Hughes can sign an eight-year contract with the Wild through Sept. 15. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement kicks in on Sept. 16 and when it does, the max term for players re-signing with their current teams will go down to seven years, and six years for players signing as unrestricted free agents.

"I mean, me and Billy are working through it right now and same with (agent) Pat (Brisson)," Hughes said. "There's been an open line of communication. I think last summer was probably a lot, it was a heavy summer, and then I got traded and then we had the Olympics and I moved and we had Minnesota in the playoffs. I feel like in the last 16-18 months there was a lot of stuff going on, and I think this summer was really good for me. It was light.

"… Obviously, I trained extremely hard and I feel like I'm in top shape, but I guess as we're getting going now, I got to Minnesota a couple days ago, we'll start figuring it out."

However, there has been plenty of speculation that Hughes prefers a three-year contract because that would enable him to potentially hit unrestricted free agency at the same time as his brother, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes.

Jack has four years remaining on his contract with the Devils.

The Hughes brothers helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Milan in February. They have been open about their desire to play together in the NHL.

"Yeah, I think that, you know, we've always wanted to play with each other," Jack said Wednesday. "Winning in Milan was an unbelievable feat that we could do together, but I don't think (Quinn) is going to sacrifice what's best for him for us to play together. I mean, we'll see. We'll see what he does."

Quinn, who won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL in 2023-24 with the Vancouver Canucks, was acquired by the Wild in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 12. 

He had 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 48 games for the Wild, who defeated the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference First Round last season before falling to the Avalanche in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Hughes had 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 11 postseason games, tied for the team lead with Kirill Kaprizov. 

"What he's done to our team and the changes he's made with him just coming in and being himself, the jump we took, I think was huge," Wild forward Matt Boldy said. "Obviously I'd love to play with him for as long as possible and whatever happens happens, but it's unfortunately not up to me."

Boldy said he doesn't think Hughes' contract situation, if still unresolved by the time training camp opens next week, will hang over the team in a negative way.

"I think it's set aside, honestly," Boldy said. "Everyone has gone through contract stuff all to different extents. Obviously, Quinn's is a pretty big deal. We have him for this whole season at least. It's nice to talk about or throw him a joke every once in a while, but I don't think it hangs over anyone to be honest. It's his business. He deserves to get paid and be happy with his decision, and obviously that's up to him. As his teammate, I want him to sign but as his friend, I want the best for him."