Minnesota Wild fans are still waiting for Quinn Hughes to sign a contract extension, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman is not ready to sound the alarm. While recent record-setting contracts have changed the market, Friedman believes there is no reason to panic yet.
Speaking on NHL Tonight, Friedman admitted he expected Hughes to have already signed an extension.
"You know, I have believed that Hughes is going to sign three times 18 in Minnesota," Friedman said. "That is my prediction. And now people are starting to wonder what's going on here."
He added that the recent wave of blockbuster contracts has complicated negotiations. He said, "I do think that the jump to 18 (Leo Carlsson's AAV) and then 18.8 (Macklin Celebrini's AAV), at the very least, it's probably thrown a little bit of a challenge in there for all these teams to narrow down these numbers."
Friedman also shared a lighter explanation for the delay, quoting an unknown source, saying, "Quinn Hughes has been too busy having fun this summer with Jack to worry about signing an extension."
The analyst laughed off the comment but acknowledged it reflected how little urgency currently surrounds the negotiations.
Friedman made it clear his concern would only grow if talks remain unresolved once the regular season begins.
"I will worry about this if it's not done by the start of the season," Friedman said. "If it's not done by the start, that's just my personal feeling. If it's not done by the start of the season, then I'll start to say, 'Hey, what's going on here?'"
Minnesota acquired Hughes from Vancouver in a blockbuster trade last December 2025, surrendering several premium assets to land one of the league's elite defensemen. The Wild hope to secure him as the cornerstone of their blue line after he immediately transformed their playoff outlook and led the team with 15 points, tied to Kirill Kaprizov.
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The biggest obstacle appears to be contract structure rather than commitment. Reports indicate Hughes prefers a shorter deal, while Minnesota seeks a longer extension. Recent contracts worth $18 million and $18.8 million annually have also reset expectations for elite players.
For now, Friedman's outlook remains optimistic. Negotiations often accelerate when deadlines approach, and training camp has not created that pressure yet. If Hughes remains unsigned once meaningful games begin, however, questions about his long-term future in Minnesota will only become louder.
