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NHL Rumor Roundup: Trade Speculation Begins About Quinn Hughes, Latest Buzz On Drake Batherson
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- NHL Rumor Roundup: Trade Speculation Begins About Quinn Hughes, Latest Buzz On Drake Batherson
The Minnesota Wild's trainingcamp opens in two weeks, but there is no indication that Quinn Hughesis any closer to a contract extension.
Hughes is slated to become anunrestricted free agent next July. General manager Bill Guerin saidin early August that he'd been in constant contact with the26-year-old superstar defenseman and his representatives to discuss anew deal.
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Guerin preached patience toanxious Wild fans, reminding them that superstar winger KirillKaprizov's extension talks stretched into late September last year before signing him. Meanwhile, Michael Russo of The Athletic dismissed internet rumors claiming the Wild and New Jersey Devils were in trade talks involving Hughes.
On Monday, Guerin updated fans onthe Hughes negotiations. He acknowledged that Cale Makar's recentrecord-setting contract with the Colorado Avalanche sets a bar forHughes, but also stated that the Wild defenseman has "a differentpersonality and has different things in life that are important tohim. Who knows what he's gonna want in the end?"
Guerin's comments stokedspeculation that Hughes could depart as a free agent next summer tojoin his brothers Jack and Luke with the Devils.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli toldSportsnet that he believes the Wild must sign Hughes soon or considermoving on. "If it were me, I'd look to rip the Band-Aid off atsome point this month," Seravalli said, adding that he wouldn'twant his club to be held hostage by this storyline.
How Will Cale Makar's Record-Breaking Extension Impact Quinn Hughes' Negotiations?
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Seravalli considered the Devils as the most likely landing spot for Hughes if the Wild decide totrade him. They could wait and sign him when he becomes a UFAnext summer. By acquiring him now, they'd have him on their roster for an extra season. It would also give them exclusive contractnegotiation rights until July 1.
The Devils' acquisition ofwinger Luke Evangelista from the Nashville Predators has them loadedwith top-nine forwards . They could draw on that forward depth to makea pitch for Hughes if he becomes available in this season's trademarket.
Latest On Batherson And Senators
Speaking of contract extensions,talks continue between the Ottawa Senators and Drake Batherson.
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The 28-year-old winger is in thefinal season of a six-year deal and is due for a significant raiseover his current average annual value of $4.95 million.
PostMedia reports a mutual desire to get a deal done. However, a gap exists in thosenegotiations, with Batherson reportedly seeking an eight-yearextension comparable to what Alex Tuch received from the WashingtonCapitals ($10.5 million AAV) and what Adrian Kempe got from the LosAngeles Kings ($10.625 million AAV).
According to PostMedia , if aneight-year extension isn't possible, there's no reason to believethe Senators would go with a higher AAV on a seven-year deal.Nevertheless, they can't risk losing another core forward aftertrading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in June.
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