Wild’s Bill Guerin gets cornered with Quinn Hughes trade scenario question

The Minnesota Wild are still trying to sign defenseman Quinn Hughes to a new contract. Hughes is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He was officially eligible to sign a new deal back in July, but the two sides have not agreed to terms.

Hughes will suit up for the Wild in 2026-27. He is signed through the end of the coming campaign. However, he is a free agent on July 1, 2027. If he hits the open market, he will have no shortage of teams lining up for his services. In saying this, there may be a chance he doesn’t finish the season as a member of the Wild.

Guerin appeared on Judd’s Hockey Show on SKOR North Radio recently, when the host asked whether he would pledge to resign from the Wild front office if Hughes is moved. When it’s stated that Guerin couldn’t truly trade Hughes, the Wild general manager said, “Why? I can do whatever I want.”

Bill Guerin refuses to pledge that “If [the Wild] are unable to get a contract extension for Quinn Hughes, and you have to trade him”, Guerin will resign as GM.

When Guerin is told “you can’t trade [Quinn],” he then says “I can do whatever I want.”

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— Craig Patrick (@TGSCraig) August 31, 2026

Still, the Wild general manager seemed to express confidence in a contract getting done. It’s unknown what Hughes is seeking on his next contract. But Minnesota maintains a good relationship with its franchise defenseman.

“The only thing I can say is we have a great relationship with Quinn. The team, me personally, I have a great relationship with his agent. Things are going well. We are talking all the time. There’s good communication,” Guerin said, via NHL.com.

This matter became more pressing recently when the Colorado Avalanche re-signed Cale Makar. Makar received a record-breaking $163.2 million contract from the Avalanche. This is the largest contract handed out in NHL history.

Hughes could certainly ask for that sort of money on his next contract. With the bar for superstar defensemen now set, Guerin has to try to find some middle ground if he wants Hughes to stick around.

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