The New Jersey Devils have been keeping tabs on Quinn Hughes‘ future for a while now.
When it was revealed last weekend that the Devils and Canucks touched base about Quinn following Vancouver’s notice to the league they’re open for business on some of their veteran pending free agents, the assumption by most was that it was the first call placed between general managers Tom Fitzgerald and Patrik Allvin.
However, according to Nick Kypreos in his latest report, the Devils and Canucks have had discussions dating back to last summer.
In those discussions, a few players have been tossed around, as well as draft compensation that could go from New Jersey to Vancouver.
“It’s far from a certainty that there’s any deal to do here between now and March, but Simon Nemec’s name is certainly out there along with Dawson Mercer, and any of New Jersey’s first-round picks in the next three years would be in play,” Kypreos writes.
The two named parties should come as no surprise. Dawson Mercer is a forward who has been coveted before by opposing teams in a potential Devils trade previously. Yet, New Jersey’s been hesitant to include him in any kind of deal previously, valuing his services more than what they can get in return for him.
Two confirmed clubs who have asked for Mercer in the past are the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators.
Simon Nemec is amid a breakout year, and the 21-year-old appears en route to fulfilling his second overall pick status.
This isn’t the first time the Devils have had trade discussions with Nemec’s name involved, discussing him with the New York Islanders this summer. Perhaps that points to how the Devils feel about the young blueliner’s expendability.
Certainly, the situation with Quinn remains status quo. There’s no urgency on Vancouver’s end to move their captain, yet. In fact, they said in their memo to the league when making their veterans available that Quinn is not to be discussed.
However, it appears as the days tick on, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Quinn is not going to remain in Vancouver, whether he plays out his contract, or leaves in Summer 2027 via free-agency.
The notion that Quinn wants to play with his brothers, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes, remains relevant. And as the noise in Vancouver mounts, the Devils’ best chance at reeling in the third Hughes brother might be now as tension builds for the 32nd ranked Canucks.
