A major NHL free-agent decision looms as the Minnesota Wild prepare to finalize a long-term contract with defenseman Quinn Hughes, following the recent blockbuster extension signed by teammate Cale Makar. With Makar’s eight-year, $163.2-million deal setting a new standard for top-tier defensemen, Hughes’ negotiations could face pressure to match both salary scale and contract length. Analysts speculate whether Minnesota will prioritize retaining Hughes with a similarly high-value offer or adjust expectations amid league-wide salary cap constraints. The outcome could reshape the Wild’s defense and set a benchmark for future contracts in the NHL.

With Cale Makar signing his eight-year, $163.2-million extension in Colorado, Quinn Hughes' deal to stay in Minnesota might not be far behind. But how does the money and term affect Hughes' negotiations?