NHL Rumor Roundup: Could Quinn Hughes prefer a shorter deal while Drake Batherson wants eight years?
The Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators have two important contract talks to handle before the new NHL season gets going. Quinn Hughes and Drake Batherson are both heading into the final year of their current deals, with both players looking for new deals with their current teams.But the two players are looking for different things from their next contracts. Hughes is believed to prefer a shorter deal, while Batherson wants the longest deal possible. With the Sept. 15 deadline getting closer, both situations will be worth watching.
Why does Quinn Hughes want a shorter deal with the Minnesota Wild?
Quinn Hughes is entering the final season of his six-year contract with the Wild, which carries a $7.85 million average annual value. The 26-year-old defenseman can become an unrestricted free agent next July if Minnesota does not sign him to an extension. Wild general manager Bill Guerin said earlier this month that talks with Hughes were still going on. He also said it could take time to reach a deal, pointing to the long talks that led to Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract last year.According to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic, league sources believe Hughes wants to stay in Minnesota. However, the rising cost of NHL players has made the talks harder than Minnesota expected.The Wild reportedly want to give Hughes an eight-year extension before Sept. 15. After that date, teams can only give a player a seven-year extension when re-signing him under the new CBA rules.Hughes, however, is believed to want a much shorter deal. Russo reported that the defenseman could be looking at five years or less, with an average annual value around $19 million.Some observers believe Hughes could be waiting to see what Cale Makar gets on his next contract. According to The Hockey News ,Like Hughes, Makar is set to become a UFA next summer and could be in line for a huge new contract.
Why is Drake Batherson seeking an eight-year deal with Ottawa Senators?
Drake Batherson is also entering the final season of his current deal with Ottawa. The 28-year-old winger has a $4.9 million cap hit and is reportedly looking for an eight-year extension with the Senators.According to a PostMedia report, Batherson wants a contract similar to the deals signed by Adrian Kempe and Alex Tuch. Kempe’s eight-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings carries a $10.625 million AAV, while Tuch’s eight-year contract with the Washington Capitals has a $10.5 million AAV.The Senators also want to keep Batherson, so the main issue is reaching a deal that works for both sides. The deadline could add pressure because an eight-year extension will no longer be possible after that date.Unlike Hughes, Batherson appears to be looking for the longest possible deal. Both sides still have time to reach an agreement, but the deadline is getting closer. With the Sept. 15 deadline getting closer, the next few weeks could bring more movement in both contract talks.
