Minnesota Wild
· 2026-06-25
The Minnesota Wild will re-sign Quinn Hughes, according to owner Craig Leipold, after acquiring him from the Vancouver Canucks in the biggest trade of the 2025-26 NHL season.
The Wild are currently 3rd in the Western Conference with a 46-24 record, on a W1 streak, following their last result, a 4-3 loss @ Colorado Avalanche on 2026-05-14.
Craig Leipold spoke with NHL.com about the future of Hughes in Minnesota, stating the team wants to sign him for as long as possible.
The question remains how long the contract will be, with Leipold hoping for five years and Hughes likely wanting a shorter deal, around three years.
The Wild's salary cap situation is complicated, with Kirill Kaprizov's $17 million per year contract starting on July 1, leaving the team with over $9.5 million in cap space for this summer.
This will decrease once they sign depth forwards and give Jesper Wallstedt a contract extension.
Hughes will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027, but the Wild won't let that happen, aiming to keep him for as long as they can.
If Hughes signs a three-year contract extension, he would hit unrestricted free agency at the same time as his brother, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes.
The Hughes brothers may be playing the long game to end up playing together, possibly in Minnesota.
The Wild's efforts to keep Quinn Hughes will be impacted by their salary cap crunch and his desire for a shorter contract.
And with the team's current standing and recent performance, securing Hughes' future is crucial for their success.
But the details of the contract will depend on negotiations between the team and Hughes.
So the Wild will try to balance their salary cap with Hughes' demands to keep him on the team.
The team's owner, Craig Leipold, is open about the negotiations, stating he's not doing the negotiating, but wants to keep Hughes for as long as possible.
Leipold's comments suggest the team is committed to keeping Hughes, but the specifics of the contract remain to be seen.
The Wild's salary cap situation will be a key factor in determining the length of Hughes' contract.
With over $9.5 million in cap space for this summer, the team will need to manage their finances carefully to keep Hughes and other key players.
The team's performance on the ice will also impact their ability to keep Hughes, as a strong season could increase his value and make it harder to sign him to a longer contract.
But for now, the Wild are focused on securing Hughes' future and building a strong team around him.