NHL Rumors: Quinn Hughes to become NHL's highest-paid defenseman surpassing Kirill Kaprizov's contract extension

Quinn Hughes is poised to redefine NHL defenseman contracts with a massive extension, possibly this season, looming for the Minnesota Wild as speculated by many league experts. His stellar play since a December 2025 trade from Vancouver has him averaging 1.21 points per game and ranking third league-wide in SPAR at 5.9, as reported by BVM Sports on Monday.Earlier, the Vancouver Canucks star Quinn Hughes was traded to the Minnesota Wild on December 12, 2025. In return, Vancouver received two young players, Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a first-round draft pick in 2026. Reports suggest that with his acquisition, the Minnesota Wild provided the team a massive boost, bolstering their defense and enhancing their playoff prospects. According to reports, Hughes’ contract carried a $7.85 million cap hit through the 2026–27 season, which factored heavily into the discussions leading up to the trade. Hughes won the 2024 Norris Trophy after posting a career-high 92 points and became the fastest player in franchise history to record 300 assists. He has secured around 400 career points and finished with 76 points in 68 games. Besides, Hughes himself recognized the emotional aspect of this transition but remained focused on the game. Quinn Hughes is on his way to becoming the NHL's highest-paid defenseman following his impressive performance. The blueliner was traded to the Wild in 2025, and since then, he has not stopped scoring top-notch scores. As per the report, Hughes has averaged 1.21 points per game, surpassing even star player Kirill Kaprizov. His contract renewal is set for July 1, and experts suggest he could break records, potentially earning upwards of $17 million annually. In this season with the Wilds Hughes has averaged 1.21 points per game, accumulating 29 points in 24 games with the Wild. Besides, he also ranked third in the NHL with 5.9 Standings Points Above Replacement (SPAR). Owing to this outstanding performance, speculations are suggesting that Hughes' new deal could range from $17 million to over $18 million annually. According to earlier reports, Hughes’ contract carried a $7.85 million cap hit through the 2026–27 season, which factored heavily into the discussions leading up to the trade. With the renewed trade deal, the Wild must prepare for the financial ramifications to secure Hughes, as his contract could reshape their entire salary landscape. Moreover, retaining Hughes is critical, but failing to meet the expectations would threaten their competitive position in the Central Division.