'Hopefully He Realizes How Much We Want Him,' GM Bill Guerin's Final Public Message To Quinn Hughes Before Wild's 2026-27 NHL Season Begins

Quinn Hughes has expressed that he is comfortable discussing contract negotiations with the Minnesota Wild during the season. Still, Wild fans and the organization hoped to have it finalized before puck drop of the 2026-27 NHL season.

With the Wild set to begin their season tonight against the Nashville Predators, unless an unforeseen contract is signed, Hughes will start the season without an extension.

Wild GM Bill Guerin spoke to Joe Smith and Michael Russo of The Athletic, providing one final public message before the season begins.

“I don’t know,” Guerin said when asked what exactly would have to change for Hughes to wake up one day and decide now is the time to stay. “Hopefully, he realizes how much we want him and that he’s in a really good spot for hockey purposes. I think he’s told you guys this, too. He’s happy here. He’s on a good team and surrounded by other really good players."

This ongoing saga between Hughes and the Wild has been not only the biggest talking point within the Wild brass, but also around the NHL. The Wild paid a premium in assets to land Hughes, and they are willing to pay a premium price on his contract extension. The ball is seemingly in Hughes court, and it's up to him if he wants to sign the deal and remain in Minnesota.

Hughes and Guerin have both said they are comfortable with the negotiations and believe something will get done. But it's no secret: the longer this goes on, the more doubt creeps into the minds of Wild fans.

“I’m always thinking about it. But I’m not losing sleep over it, either," said Guerin. "This happens in pro sports. It’s part of contracts, free agency, and timing. We’re planning for our future, too. It’s not like we’re just sitting and waiting for Quinn. We love him, and we hope he’s a part of things for years to come, but we also have to operate our team day by day.”

The Wild are in win-now mode. The core of their roster is either in or on the cusp of their prime years. The franchise desperately wants to compete for a Stanley Cup, and this roster is their best bet.

Extending Hughes extends their window to win, but losing him for free could be detrimental. 

While the 26-year-old defenseman never made his intentions clear, his choices seem to be between the Wild and joining his brothers in New Jersey. There has also been speculation that Hughes is taking his time in negotiations to see where the team stands. He could wait for as long as he likes, but could he hold firm on talks until American Thanksgiving? If the Wild are comfortably in a playoff spot and meeting expectations, he could revisit the conversations. 

Already, we've seen some setbacks for the Wild. Mats Zuccarello left in the off-season, the Wild failed to add another top-six center, and they will start the season with Filip Gustavsson, as well as Hughes' defense partner Brock Faber on the injured reserve.

Nonetheless, the Wild have to find ways to win games, both to improve their playoff chances and to extend Quinn Hughes.

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.