Minnesota Wild

Has Hughes’ ‘Partying’ Created a Contract Situation Few Saw Coming?

Are the Wild waiting on Quinn Hughes to stop partying so they can get a contract extension signed? Or is Cale Makar the bigger factor?

by
NHL Trade Talk
August 25, 2026

On the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman says he didn’t expect Quinn Hughes‘ extension talks with the Minnesota Wild to stretch out this long. Part of why this might be taking longer than expected is because he’s heard the defenseman, along with other members of the U.S. Olympic team, have really been “enjoying their summer.”

The insinuation seemed to be that players from that team have been partying pretty hard. One source even asked Friedman if he ever wondered how much those players have been “in the gym”, suggesting that it’s likely not much, if at all. Understanding that those players who won the gold medal are understandably having a good time, it’s put things a bit behind when it comes to hockey business.

Friedman said he’s noted before that he’ll start to worry if a deal isn’t in place by the time the season opens. He still stands by that assessment. If the season starts and nothing is done, it would signal something genuinely unusual is going on behind the scenes.

Hughes and the Wild Haven’t Talked About a Contract Extension

According to Friedman, there hasn’t actually been much back-and-forth between Hughes and the Wild so far. That might be cause for some concern, given that camps aren’t far away.

Part of the delay, he suggests, comes down to timing, so the stress on the organization isn’t as high as it could be. Once Hughes and several other players from the U.S. Olympic roster stop riding a wave of new attention, the hope is that this doesn’t take too long to figure out.

Another factor in negotiations is what happens with Colorado’s Cale Makar. Both defensemen face similar contract questions — they could be watching each other closely, each waiting to see who moves first and sets the price. Both are signed through the 2026-27 season, and no deal has yet been finalized, but the clock is ticking toward the September deadline for eight-year deals. While neither might be considering such a long term, both are potentially waiting to see what the other signs for.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Podcast — Ep. 32: The NHL Offseason Leftovers