What Happened
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin said Tuesday that the club is prepared to hold onto Quinn Hughes beyond the trade deadline even if the defenceman remains unsigned, accepting the possibility of losing him to free agency for nothing. Speaking to reporters in Toronto, Guerin framed the decision around Minnesota's current Stanley Cup push rather than the contract file. "Honestly, we're a better team with Quinn Hughes, so I mean, I want to keep him as long as I possibly can," Guerin said, according to NHL.com. "Whether it's three months, three years, seven years, whatever, we're a better team with Quinn Hughes." When asked whether that approach extends to keeping an unsigned Hughes past the deadline, Guerin answered yes. On negotiations, he said things remain "status quo" and repeated that he wants the player focused on hockey.
"Honestly, we're a better team with Quinn Hughes, so I mean, I want to keep him as long as I possibly can." Wild general manager Bill Guerin said, per NHL.com
"Whether it's three months, three years, seven years, whatever, we're a better team with Quinn Hughes." Guerin said
"Honestly, I just want him to focus on hockey. Like I said, he knows what's going on in his head. He understands everything." Guerin said
Key Details
- Guerin said the Wild are willing to risk losing Hughes to free agency rather than move him at the deadline.
- Hughes is playing out the final season of a six-year, $47.1-million contract signed before his Vancouver tenure ended.
- Hughes became eligible to re-sign with Minnesota on July 1; Guerin described talks as "status quo."
- Minnesota traded Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi and a 2026 first-round pick to Vancouver for Hughes in December 2025.
- Hughes is a one-time Norris Trophy winner and an impending unrestricted free agent.
- Guerin made the comments to reporters in Toronto, per NHL.com.
What It Means
The stance signals Minnesota is treating this season as a genuine contention window rather than an asset-management exercise. Keeping Hughes as a self-rental maximizes the Wild's blueline and power play for a playoff run, but it also means the organization could lose a Norris Trophy winner with no return. For a club that already paid a steep acquisition price of Buium, Ohgren, Rossi and a first-rounder, letting Hughes walk would sting. Guerin's comments also remove deadline leverage from rival buyers, who now have little reason to expect a discounted price.
What's Next
No timeline for resumed negotiations was offered, and Guerin said the situation remains unchanged. The next real decision point is the trade deadline, when Minnesota would have to choose between a playoff push with Hughes and recouping assets. Until then, the focus stays on the season, with Guerin saying he wants Hughes to concentrate on hockey.