Owner Craig Leipold reveals contract negotiations are a matter of "when" not "if," as the franchise moves to secure its star defenseman alongside Minnesota’s elite core.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild's biggest priority this offseason appears to be crystal clear.
During an interview with Minnesota Public Radio released Wednesday, Wild owner Craig Leipold expressed complete confidence that the organization will sign star defenseman Quinn Hughes to a contract extension.
While the two sides may still have to work through the length of a new deal, Leipold made it clear he expects Hughes to remain in Minnesota.
"We are going to re-sign him. The question will be for how long. We would like to go as long as we could. He will probably want it to be a little shorter — shorter being maybe three years. We hopefully will end up at five."
Leipold's comments provide the clearest public indication yet of where extension talks stand between the Wild and one of the NHL's premier defensemen.
The owner suggested that term, not whether a deal gets done, could be the biggest point of negotiation. Minnesota would prefer the security of a five-year contract, while Hughes may favor a shorter agreement that would allow him to reach free agency again sooner.
Even so, Leipold never sounded concerned that an extension wouldn't happen.
Since acquiring Hughes, the Wild have consistently made it known that the franchise views him as a cornerstone piece alongside Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber. Leipold's latest comments only reinforce that belief.
A five-year extension would keep Hughes in Minnesota through the prime of his career while giving the Wild one of the NHL's strongest defensive cores for years to come.
It's also another sign of the organization's commitment to winning now. After pushing all-in to acquire Hughes, the Wild have no intention of letting him leave.
Hughes, 26, is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.
While negotiations still need to play out, Leipold's message was unmistakable. The Wild fully expect Hughes to be wearing green and red well into the future.
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