Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin gave yet another uncertain update on the status of contract negotiations with star defenceman Quinn Hughes on Tuesday.
Guerin said talks remain “status quo” between the two sides as Hughes inches closer to reaching unrestricted free agency on July 1.
“Because, honestly, I just want him to focus on hockey,” Guerin told Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com of why talks remain in that state. “Like I said, he knows what’s going on in his head. He understands everything.”
Guerin added he did not know when a potential date would be that he would feel forced to make a decision on Hughes’ future with the team and said he was open to holding the defenceman through the trade deadline even if an extension is not in place.
“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. “Whether it’s three months, three years, seven years, whatever, we’re a better team with Quinn Hughes.”
The Wild have been pushing to sign Hughes since he became eligible to sign on July 1 after paying a steep price to acquire him last December. The Wild sent forwards Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi, defenceman Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks to land Hughes just under a year ago.
Guerin admitted last month there was little to do on his side but hope that Hughes would elect to open extension talks, having so far been unwilling to engage.
“There’s nothing to talk about right now,” Guerin told the Chad Hartman Show of WCCO Talk 830 in Minnesota. “What am I going to do, say ‘Please, please, please?’”
Guerin’s Oct. 28 comments came just days after Hughes appeared to give the franchise hope while talking about his future ahead of returning to face the Canucks.
“I’m where I’ve always been. I’m excited right now. My two feet are planted in Minnesota and you know, something could happen soon,” Hughes said on Oct. 24. “I’m not really sure. I’m really enjoying playing here… there’s a lot of things that are set up nicely here for me to have success individually and as a team.
“We have a great team. First thing, is you want to get into the playoffs but I would think that we have a chance to win this year.”
The 27-year-old Hughes has six goals and 26 points in in 19 games this season while averaging 28:07 of ice time - the second-highest total in the league.
He has been a key contributor for the Wild, who sit atop the Central Division with a 12-3-4 record. Minnesota will visit the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.