Elliotte Friedman projects a high-stakes bridge deal for the superstar defenseman, potentially making him hockey's highest-paid player while setting the stage for another massive payday before thirty.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — One of the biggest questions surrounding the Minnesota Wild this offseason is how long Quinn Hughes' next contract will be, and one of hockey's top insiders believes it won't be a lengthy deal.
In his annual NHL free agency prediction piece, Elliotte Friedman projected that Hughes will sign a three-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $18 million sometime in July.
If that prediction becomes reality, Hughes would become one of the highest-paid players in the NHL while positioning himself to cash in again before turning 30.
A shorter-term extension has long been viewed as a realistic possibility given the rising salary cap and Hughes' ability to command another massive contract in just a few years.
Wild owner Craig Leipold recently acknowledged that the organization would prefer to lock Hughes up for a longer term but admitted a shorter contract could ultimately be the outcome.
Whether it ends up being three years or something longer, securing Hughes remains the Wild's top priority after acquiring the franchise defenseman in last December's blockbuster trade.
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