There hasn't exactly been much NHL news this late in the offseason, as the entirety of the league is essentially on vacation until the start of training camp. While St. Louis Blues fans are waiting to see what the new-look roster could look like for the start of the 2026-27 season. Is this roster good enough for them to contend for a playoff spot out of the Central Division? Can they jump over a team like the Minnesota Wild, who are dominating the NHL offseason news cycle?
It's no secret that the Wild are looking for a new No. 1 center. But, they are also trying to reach an agreement with defenseman Quinn Hughes on a contract extension. While the two sides expressed interest in a deal, nothing has transpired just yet, more than a month since the start of free agency on July 1. With each passing day, it looks less likely that a deal would come to fruition, which would be good news for Blues fans. Any time you can get a top player out of the division is a plus.
But it appears that Wild fans have been given some good news surrounding a Hughes contract extension.
Wild still have good odds of re-signing Quinn Hughes
The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith recently held a survey for Wild fans about a variety of topics (subscription required). When asking how fans felt about Hughes not signing a contract extension yet, Russo wrote that if the defenseman didn't want to re-sign with the Wild, the team would have known by now.
"There’s still plenty of time, and [Bill] Guerin and [Pat] Brisson continue to have healthy, regular conversations. Remember, too, that Brisson — an agent with nearly $1.7 billion worth of contracts in the NHL, according to PuckPedia — is a deal-maker. If Hughes wasn’t going to extend, the Wild would know by now," writes Russo.
So, it does seem like that Hughes is committed to the Wild, but the two sides haven't agreed to terms just yet.
It's important to note that markets across all positions have increased this offseason. With Kirill Kaprizov setting the tone just before last season with a $17 million annual salary, some players have exceeded that already. Leo Carlsson earned an $18 million annual salary on a five-year offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, which the Anaheim Ducks matched. Shortly after that, San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini earned an $18.8 million annual salary on a five-year extension.
So, given that the prediction was that Hughes could sign an $18 million per year extension, the price tag may have increased.
Quinn Hughes leaving Central Division would be welcoming news for the Blues
If Hughes and the Wild don't reach an agreement by the start of the upcoming season, then it will be time for Minnesota to panic.
Hughes is under contract for just the upcoming season. From there, he will hit free agency, where he would undoubtedly cash in on a lucrative contract. Let's face it, Hughes is one of the best defensemen and overall players in the game today. Nearly every team will try to sign Hughes, as it would increase their chances of winning.
It's also well known that Quinn and his younger brother, Jack, have talked about playing on the same team together. If he does hit free agency, one would have to wonder if he's try signing with the Devils, where Jack and Luke both play.
Would it be cool if the Blues signed Hughes if he hit free agency? Of course. But it might be a while before the Blues are able to add a star. Let's not forget that Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson rejected a trade to St. Louis this offseason.
But, the Blues are in a position where they will need their top rivals in the divisional standings to lose players to increase their odds of getting back into Stanley Cup contention.
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