09/17/26 05:43:00
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09/17 17:42 CDT Quinn Hughes isn't sweating contract talks with the Wild,
doesn't see the season start as a deadline
Quinn Hughes isn't sweating contract talks with the Wild, doesn't see the
season start as a deadline
By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) --- Quinn Hughes unwound after an especially eventful
hockey season with the usual retreat to his lake home in Michigan, soaking up
the summer with his brothers and their friends.
Hughes would prefer if everyone would relax about his contract situation, too.
As the star defenseman and Olympic gold medalist reported to his first training
camp with the Minnesota Wild without an extension, raising the anxiety level at
least within the fan base. Hughes said after the team's first practice on
Thursday that he's plenty satisfied with the direction and state of the
organization and simply hasn't gotten around to thinking hard about the next
phase of his career.
"With planning out my future, I don't do that. I don't really plan out my
summer," Hughes said. "Just kind of went about it and enjoyed it."
Hughes is in the final year of his current deal with a $7.85 million salary cap
hit. His agent, Pat Brisson, and Wild general manager Bill Guerin have begun
talks about a new contract, but for Hughes the start of the regular season on
Oct. 1 is just a superficial deadline.
"I don't feel stressed to do something before the season," Hughes said. "And
that's not saying that something won't happen, but that's just how it is."
Fellow defenseman Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche set the bar for annual
average value at $20.5 million by signing the richest deal in league history
last month, but Hughes might well top that, particularly on a shorter-term
contract.
Hughes has fueled some speculation about desiring to play with younger brothers
Jack and Luke, who are both with New Jersey, but he's only 26 and should have
ample time left to link up with them down the road.
"I'm really happy here. I love the guys. I love the team, and I fit in really
well," Hughes said. "Obviously, there's a draw to play with those guys at some
point, but I think Jack said it perfectly: I'm not going to sacrifice a great
spot for me to play with them."
Left wing Marcus Foligno, whose older brother Nick was acquired by the Wild
right before the trade deadline last season, has been reminding Hughes that he
can wait to figure out where to play with Jack and Luke. Marcus is 35 and Nick
will turn 39 next month.
"It's the best when it's toward the end of the career," Foligno said. "You do
it too early, you don't appreciate it as much. It's great when you're just
hanging on."
After arriving in Minnesota near midseason in a trade with Vancouver, Hughes
helped lead the U.S. national team to the gold medal at the Olympics in Italy
about two months later. Then in just 48 games with the Wild, he set the
franchise defenseman record with 53 points and was an integral part of their
first-round victory over Dallas that was the first playoff series win in 11
years.
Guerin was general manager of the U.S. team, too, so he's developed a strong
relationship with Hughes, who offered no hint of dissatisfaction, impatience or
uncertainty on the subject of wanting to re-up with the Wild.
"I have so much trust in Billy. He's a great GM. He's always going to address
the needs of the team. It's not like I have to freaking poke at Billy to do
something," Hughes said. "Billy's kind of a shark. He's going to be trying to
make our team better at every point he can."
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