Now that the Quinn Hughes speculation has exploded, the New Jersey Devils are no longer the lone destination folks are predicting in a potential trade.
On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman revealed the Devils and Vancouver Canucks have been in contact about the 26-year-old defenseman, which further fueled the speculation that a trade could happen as soon as this season, despite the claim that nothing is urgent.
“I do not believe there is anything imminent,” Friedman said, via Saturday Night Headlines on Hockey Night in Canada. “I don’t even know that they’re anywhere far along. But I do believe that a conversation was had about where things stand and where they might be going.”
Yet, even though on a few days have gone by since then, the tune has changed from “not happening yet,” to “hard to predict when.”
That’s likely because Vancouver, who hasn’t commented on the situation, are fielding calls from potential suitors. Right now, it sounds like it’s just to gauge the market. However, those situations can evolve after the right phone call.
As Friedman reported, the Devils were one, and perhaps the first team to call. However, other organizations have been named in the sweepstakes, such as the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and even the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins of late. Although, Detroit seems to be the only real threat to New Jersey.
And ever since the Red Wings have thrown their hat into the ring, there’s a sense that they could perhaps have the advantage in a trade.
Detroit has the finer assets in terms of what Vancouver needs. The Canucks have reportedly been looking for a center since the summer, yet have fallen short of finding one.
The Devils certainly aren’t trading Quinn’s brother, Jack Hughes, for the defenseman. Nor their captain, Nico Hischier. That’s just about all the value New Jersey owns up the middle right now in a potential deal.
However, the Red Wings have one Marco Kasper or Nate Danielson, who are of interest.
So, perhaps in that sense, the Red Wings have an advantage.
Yet, no one is talking about one specific, and potentially likely reason, the Devils have the advantage in landing Quinn.
On July 1st, the eldest Hughes brother is eligible to sign an extension heading into the last year of his contract.
There’s no guarantee he inks said extension with an inquiring team.
Thus, why would a team such as Detroit give up prime assets in Kasper or Danielson for a year and a half, perhaps less, of Quinn? The same can be asked of Philadelphia. Are they comfortable forking over Jett Luchenko-plus for a player who may just walk to New Jersey in Summer 2027? Certainly, a Matvei Michkov wouldn’t be made available.
Look at the Mikko Rantanen situation, for example. The Carolina Hurricanes took a huge swing on the Finnish juggernaut forward, only to flip him when they realized he wasn’t going to stay.
As a result, they lost not only Rantanen, but Martin Necas—who is tearing it up with the Colorado Avalanche—and prime draft capitol.
Sure, the Hurricanes received Logan Stankoven in return when dealing Rantanen to Dallas, but no one can sit here and say that Carolina is better off from where they started.
Rantanen’s uncertainty, coupled with the destinations he already knew he’d want to commit long-term to, landed him with the Dallas Stars on an eight-year contract. Whereas the Hurricanes, although still well-structured and winning, thinned out and could be an even better team than they are right now.
Suffice to say, it’s a risk for an inquiring team to go all in for Quinn without a commitment when he can walk away in free agency in two summers. And that will certainly give inquiring GMs pause forking over prime assets.
Vancouver will then be in a spot where they’ll need to find the best available value in return, to which the Devils very well can step up to the plate and provide it, even if there’s no center included.
Add the factor that after September 2026, eight-year contracts will be a thing of the past. Quinn’s camp will want to at least have the option of signing one, thus, we may learn sooner than later where the Norris Trophy defenseman is willing to commit to.
Why wouldn’t he commit where his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes, play long-term, especially after the revelation that there’s the desire to do so?
Certainly, there’s still time for this to all play out. However, if things intensify, you’ll undoubtedly see teams drop out of a Quinn sweepstakes if they’re inclined to believe that the player wouldn’t entertain the idea of inking a contract long-term.
