Quinn Hughes contract negotiations intensify following Makar deal

The Minnesota Wild are facing increasing pressure to secure a contract extension for defenseman Quinn Hughes following Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar’s historic eight-year, $163.4 million deal. Makar’s contract makes him the highest-paid player in NHL history and the first skater to earn an annual salary exceeding $20 million.

Negotiations for Hughes are complicated by upcoming changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). If an extension is not signed before September 16, the maximum contract length may decrease from eight years to seven. Additionally, new rules will limit aggregate signing bonuses to 60% of a contract’s total value and require the lowest-paying year to be at least 71% of the highest-paying year.

Reports suggest that Hughes may feel a sense of obligation to the Wild due to the significant assets the organization sacrificed to acquire him. While discussions between Hughes and the Wild have remained quiet, the timing of the Makar deal has intensified scrutiny regarding whether Hughes’ extension will be finalized before training camp.