The Detroit Red Wings won’t have Quinn Hughes on their team during the 2025-’26 NHL season. The Vancouver Canucks traded Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in a blockbuster deal last week. Minnesota wasn’t rumored to acquire the Vancouver superstar, but a late push by general manager Bill Guerin got the job done.
Detroit, which passed on Hughes in the 2018 NHL Draft, was among the losing teams, joining the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, and more. It was a disappointing development as the Red Wings had the assets to make a trade for Hughes and were considered one of the favorites.
However, why didn’t Detroit land Hughes after being labeled as one of the favorites to swing a trade with the Canucks? Below, we dive into why the NHL team didn’t acquire the 2024 Norris Trophy winner.
Why the Detroit Red Wings didn’t trade for Quinn Hughes
The Red Wings failed to land Hughes despite the loud rumors. The organization was one of the few teams that could trade with Vancouver, as it searched for a young center and a defenseman. In fact, this is where the talks appear to have broken down between the two sides.
Detroit’s trade talks for Hughes didn’t get far because Vancouver wanted a player that wasn’t going to be traded, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast. Friedman wondered if defenseman Simon Edvinsson was the player, but was unsure if that was the case.
Edvinsson has become an emerging piece for Detroit’s defense and continues to develop into a strong left-handed defenseman. The 22-year-old defenseman’s physicality has improved, as he continues to rack up more hits and blocks, while still contributing on offense.
The Red Wings had plenty of options at center for the Canucks, and if Edvinsson had to be included, it’s not hard to understand why they decided against it. Detroit would have benefited from adding Hughes and keeping Edvinsson, but either way, the organization didn’t have much traction on a trade with Vancouver.
What’s next for the Detroit Red Wings?
Detroit would have elevated its potential for the 2025-’26 NHL season by acquiring Hughes, but the team will now focus forward and push for a playoff spot. The Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning are tied with 39 points in the Atlantic Division as of December 15, and there are reasons for optimism going into 2026.
John Gibson has been sensational over the last two weeks as Detroit’s goalie, with five straight wins and two shutouts in the last three games. Meanwhile, the Red Wings have scored four-plus goals in six of the last seven games, led by Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin.
Despite the strong play, the Red Wings’ defense figures to be the biggest focus ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline in a few months. There might not be a major trade; however, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski would be intriguing options if they become available.
For now, the Red Wings will focus on developing their young nucleus while rising to the top of the Atlantic Division. Detroit missed out on trading for Hughes in 2025, but he could be an option moving forward under the right circumstances. It just wasn’t the right time with such a high asking price.
