ST. PAUL, Minn. — As the Minnesota Wild continue extension talks with Quinn Hughes, league sources emphatically shot down reports that the Wild have engaged the New Jersey Devils — or any team — in trade talks regarding the superstar defenseman.One source, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations that aren’t public, went as far as to tell The Athletic on Tuesday that the rumors are “bulls—,” “made up” and “invented BS by bloggers.”The Wild continue to talk regularly with Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, about term, average annual value and contract structure, and remain confident they’ll be able to sign him before the season. There is no pressure or urgency internally to get a deal done immediately. However, the Wild understand that fan anxiety will only increase the longer talks continue, as it did last year during the Kirill Kaprizov negotiations.Minnesota would like to have Hughes signed before the season to eliminate a potential distraction and the added pressure. The 26-year-old, who is entering the final year of his contract, will earn $8.25 million this season and carry a cap hit of $7.85 million.Part of what makes the negotiation complicated is that the NHL’s contract landscape has dramatically changed this offseason.Why sports leagues finally embraced Las VegasTifo SportsSince Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $17 million AAV extension last fall, Leo Carlsson signed a five-year, $18 million AAV offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, which the Anaheim Ducks matched and Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $18.8 million AAV deal with the San Jose Sharks.By the time a Hughes extension kicks in, the cap ceiling is expected to be $113.5 million and is expected to keep rising. Kaprizov got roughly 16.3 percent of this upcoming season’s $104 million ceiling. If Hughes got the same percentage of the expected cap in Year 1 of his deal, that’d be a roughly $18.5 million AAV. If Hughes commands a bigger slice of the cap as one of the NHL’s top defensemen, it could be in the $19 million or $20 million range.Complicating matters further, Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar is also entering the final year of his contract. Either one could reset the market for elite defensemen. Like Kaprizov and a slew of star forwards last season, Hughes and Makar could each be waiting for the other to sign first.In other news, the Wild are closing in on extending coach John Hynes, who is entering the final year of his contract, per league sources who are speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss non-public negotiations. The extension is expected to be announced as training camp approaches. Camp opens Sept. 16, with players taking the ice for the first time Sept. 17.Wild hire full-time EBUG, analystPeter Thome, a former University of North Dakota and University of St. Thomas goalie, has been hired as the first full-time emergency backup goalie in Wild history. He has been on the ice the past few weeks during captains’ practices.Under the new collective bargaining agreement, each NHL team must sign a permanent emergency backup who will be at every home game and travel with the team to all road games (like a bullpen catcher in Major League Baseball). Thome, 29, will double as a hockey operations analyst, giving the Wild another employee in their analytics department.Thome, a Minneapolis native, played four years at North Dakota (2017 to ’21) and went 19-14-4 with a 2.24 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 45 games. His .936 save percentage during his junior season in 11 games is the best single-season mark in North Dakota history.He also played in 29 games with the University of St. Thomas in 2021-22 and went 3-24-1 with a 4.53 GAA and a .876 save percentage. Thome was a sixth-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016 and has five games of ECHL experience.After his playing career, Thome spent two seasons with the USHL’s Chicago Steel, as an analyst in 2022-23 and as director of hockey operations in 2023-24. He was a video coach with AHL Coachella Valley in 2024-25.Boldy, Hartman trade sticks for clubsWild forwards Matt Boldy and Ryan Hartman and former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen have received exemptions and will play in this week’s PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship at Brainerd’s Cragun’s Legacy Courses.“Their presence brings incredible energy for our local sports fans and highlights the unique, community-focused spirit of this event,” said tournament director Jack Wawro. “Having an Olympic gold medalist and elite Minnesota athletes competing alongside local talent like Andrew (Israelson) is going to create an amazing atmosphere for our spectators.”The athletes will advance to the weekend rounds if they make the 36-hole cut (top 60 plus ties). The field runs 156 golfers deep.Aug 25, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms