Nearly Impossible Hughes Decision: Do The Wild Have the Stomach?

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It won’t be long before the Minnesota Wild, specifically GM Bill Guerin, is faced with a nearly impossible decision. Do he take a run regardless of what Quinn Hughes decides to do? Or does he decide he can’t afford to let Hughes walk away for no return? Most GMs might not have the stomach for such a decision. Guerin might not have a choice in the matter.

There’s no rush right now. But it won’t be long until the 2027 calendar rolls in. Before you know it, February 1st will be here, and the NHL trade deadline will be a month away. The Wild gave up the equivalent of four assets to land their star defenseman, and his contract status still hangs over the room. Do they keep him no matter what?

The case for staying put is strong. He has been lights out, with 27 points in 20 games, and he is the second-fastest defenseman in history to reach 80 points since joining a new team. Minnesota is also tied for the top spot in the West with just three regulation losses. And they’ve done it without one of their best players, Brock Faber, who is expected to make his season debut Saturday. A team playing this well, with reinforcements on the way, has little reason to blow it up.

There’s also a long history of the team failing to make long playoff runs. This franchise has had no sustained playoff success for more than two decades. If the Wild want that to change, they need a number one defenseman of this caliber in the lineup when the games matter most.

Then again, if Hughes walks away and the Wild don’t win it all, it’s a tough look.

How Do the Wild Make Such a Tough Decision?

This isn’t likely about money. If it was, Hughes would probably already be signed. There is more of a sticking point on term, given that Hughes might want to line up his contract to match his brother Jack. Even then, if he wants a shorter deal, Minnesota is likely to give it to him. As one of the best defensemen in the world, you do what he’s willing to.

The Wild might have to look at what they get out of a run with Hughes regardless of an extension. He fits as a number-one defenseman, and you get the playoff run you want and have waited years for. If he leaves, the team would have significant cap space and could pivot to another big name. The Wild make a push for a Stanley Cup this season, then try again with a different star next season.

They could look at the return they gave up and realize that few might look back and say the trade wasn’t worth it. The players Minnesota sent out to get him aren’t exactly tearing it up, so the heat on the front office is lower than it might be.

It would take a bold general manager to ride it out and swallow the uncertainty. But if the Wild keep winning, the bolder move may be to veer off course when things are going so well.

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