Quinn Hughes’ situation in Minnesota has taken a noticeably positive turn. There are growing indications that the star defenseman could commit long-term to the Minnesota Wild.

What looked like a short stay has now become a story about trust, stability, and both sides wanting to continue together. The biggest shift in narrative now comes from Hughes himself.

Besides stating that he is “open” to signing a new contract with the Wild, on May 15, Hughes also said, "I mean, I really like it here." Despite not confirming anything, his words can be taken as a positive sign for the organization, hinting at a long-term partnership.

Hughes also mentioned that the final decision regarding his continuation at the Wild will depend on GM Bill Guerin. However, he also considered that it was too early to arrive at a decision, given their latest loss took place less than 36 hours ago.

The 26-year-old said, "We'll see what Billy (Guerin, Wild general manager) wants to do," Hughes said. "Again, we’re not even 36 hours removed. So, it's a tough loss, but I would definitely be open to re-signing here."

The next season will be the last for Hughes in terms of his current contract. He signed a six-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks in October 2021, valued at $47.1 million. 

Quinn Hughes started this season with Vancouver this season, where he had 23 points, including 2 goals. After joining the Wild, he scored 53 points, including 5 goals in 48 regular-season games. He also scored 15 points in 11 playoff games, including 4 goals.

Quinn Hughes Holds Bill Guerin in High Regard

While talking about his re-signing, Hughes kept focusing on GM Bill Guerin. This may be because they already worked together before: In the USA team that won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with Guerin as the GM.

Hughes also scored 8 points in 6 games in that tournament. So, their connection started before he joined the Wild. The 26-year-old expressed strong trust in GM Bill Guerin and said their vision for building a championship team aligns closely.

"I have a lot of trust in Billy and respect him. The way he views building a championship team [in Minnesota], the players that we need, that's how I view things," Hughes said.

He also praised Guerin’s leadership, saying, "He's a great person, too. Just takes care of the players. I want to win, and he wants to win more than anyone. I don’t think there are many people more disappointed than him right now. He’s going to do everything he can to make us a championship team, and that makes me excited."

Looking at the situation, it seems Hughes may stay with the team. Although nothing is final yet, his comments suggest a long-term association with the Wild.

His strong connection with GM Bill Guerin also helps this idea. Guerin likely wants to keep a player like Hughes on the team. 

Hughes will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. The 26-year-old will become eligible to sign a long-term deal with the Wild on July 1. Now it will be interesting to see what happens next.

So, do you think that Hughes' positive comments about continuing in the Wild will eventually come to fruition?

Read more at the NHL Fan Central

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Souvik Roy