One major trade saga has come to an end; is the one potentially involving the Wild next?
United States gold medal-winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck revealed in August he had requested a trade from the Winnipeg Jets “months ago.” After suspending him without pay for the first 10 games of the season, the Jets have officially completed a trade on Friday that sends Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils.
Related: Top Wild insider thinks Dylan Larkin trade will ‘happen soon’
Is that a sign that trade winds are blowing elsewhere and we could see the end of the long, drawn-out saga featuring Red Wings center Dylan Larkin come to an end? If Larkin lands in Minnesota, could that also draw the Quinn Hughes extension drama to an end as well? Elliotte Friedman is the latest insider to speculate that the two moves could be linked.
When asked Thursday on NHL Now about the possibility that Minnesota landing Larkin could trigger Hughes to finally put pen to paper on an extension with the Wild, Friedman admitted he does “believe that theory.”
“There’s a media tour at the beginning of the year,” said Friedman. “One is in Europe and one is in North America; this year it was in Vegas, where each team brings a player and they do a round of interviews and do some promo shoots with a bunch of reporters and networks. And one of the things I asked at that media event was to Quinn Hughes, ‘If Larkin got there, what would happen? If Larkin came to Minnesota, would that get you to sign?’ And he kind of paused a bit and, you know, he basically said, ‘It wouldn’t hurt.’ So I think we’re all there.”
News of Larkin’s trade request became public in June. Immediately, the Wild became linked as the top team to land the All-Star center, with Minnesota among the three teams on Larkin’s original list of teams he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause for. That liast has now reportedly grown to 10 teams.
With the season now underway, Larkin, despite wanting a move out, has suited up for the Red Wings, tallying five points (one goal, four assists) in eight games for Detroit.
Friedman isn’t the only insider who has indicated the two may be linked. The Athletic’s Michael Russo has suggested on several occasions, in radio and TV hits, as well as in writing, that a Larkin trade could trigger a Hughes extension.
“I think a lot of people believe the team with the most incentive to do the Larkin (trade) is Minnesota,” continued Friedman. “Remember from when they traded for Quinn Hughes, Bill Guerin says he comes in high, he makes his best offer, and he doesn’t fool around. Well, obviously, whatever he offered, and I think it was (Danila) Yurov and a couple of picks and maybe another player, wasn’t enough to get it done for Detroit, at least now.”
Yurov has begun the 2026-27 campaign electrically, bagging five points (four goals, one assist) in 11 appearances. It’s fair to wonder if that start has potentially put into question the willingness of Minnesota to move on from the 22-year-old for a veteran. However, if it guarantees the team the ability to lock up one of the best defensemen in the world, it seems like a no-brainer.
Friedman finished by saying that he still views the Wild as the top team making a push for Larkin.
“I just find it hard to believe that until this is over, Minnesota isn’t the team at the front of the line trying the hardest to get it done,” said Friedman.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Oct 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Wild section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.