Internet rumors link Quinn Hughes to the New Jersey Devils while contract talks continue with the Minnesota Wild. Meanwhile, there's a prediction that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson could join the Toronto Maple Leafs before the March trade deadline.
As September approaches, there’s no sign of a new contract for Quinn Hughes with the Minnesota Wild.
That lack of progress has made some Wild fans nervous, though a majority in a recent poll still believe the 26-year-old defenseman will sign an extension before the regular season begins.
It’s also prompted rumors linking Hughes to the New Jersey Devils, so much so that Michael Russo of The Athletic reported league sources “emphatically” denied rumors of trade talks between the two clubs regarding the superstar blueliner.
Hughes is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $7.85 million. According to Russo, contract talks continue between Wild management and the Hughes camp, with the former remaining confident a deal can be reached before the season begins.
In other words, the Wild’s approach hasn’t changed since general manager Bill Guerin updated the status of those negotiations earlier this summer. Guerin preached patience, reminding Wild fans that it took until September of last year for winger Kirill Kaprizov to sign a lucrative long-term extension.
The Wild reportedly hoped to sign Hughes to an eight-year extension before September 15, when the maximum term for re-signing players drops to seven years. However, the former Norris Trophy winner apparently wants a shorter deal, perhaps between three and five years.
Hughes could more than double his current salary. Given the sharp increase in salaries for elite players, Russo expects Hughes could get something between $19 million and $20 million on his next deal.
Penguins' Erik Karlsson On The Move?
Speaking of former Norris Trophy winners, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins surfaced in the rumor mill earlier this week.
During Tuesday’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said one of his sources predicted that the 36-year-old Penguins defenseman could end up with the Toronto Maple Leafs, depending on how this season goes for both teams.
Like Hughes, Karlsson is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Unlike Hughes, his club hasn’t made any indication that they want to sign him to a contract extension.
Friedman noted that Karlsson has a full no-movement clause. He also doubted that the blueliner would be traded if he and the Penguins have another solid season.
However, Friedman speculated that it could change if they’re out of playoff contention by the March 1 trade deadline. He thinks the presence of former NHL stars Mats Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson in the Maple Leafs front office and coaching staff might help convince Karlsson to come to Toronto if the Leafs are in playoff contention.
It’s an intriguing theory, but The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau isn’t holding his breath. He pointed out that Karlsson has full control over this situation and might not be keen to come to the pressure cooker that is Toronto. Proteau also noted that the offensively gifted Karlsson won’t improve the Leafs overall defensive game.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
