Blockbuster Trade Idea to Get Quinn Hughes to the Devils
It was a matter of when, not if, the Quinn Hughes-to-New Jersey storylines would pick up steam. It was always the pea under the mattress, even when the vibes in Vancouver were decent; Quinn's two brothers, Jack and Luke, play for the Devils.
With the Canucks highly likely to miss the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, the Hughes chatter is happening even sooner than expected.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Sunday that the Devils and Canucks have at least "touched base" about Quinn, and if this is the type of information coming out while the Canucks are publicly downplaying concerns, then it inspires further questions about whether the organization is bracing for the inevitable.
There will be other clubs interested in Hughes. Among theoretical destinations are the Red Wings, Flyers, and Rangers. Certainly, many more teams will inquire. But until suggested otherwise, the Devils should be assumed as favorites.
How would Hughes fit in New Jersey, and what might a potential trade package look like? Let's take a look.
Hughes' Fit in New Jersey
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The aesthetic fit of Quinn Hughes as the third brother is obvious, but does he fit the Devils' needs in terms of roster makeup and style?
The Devils have a crowded blue line (when healthy), but they lack a true offensive defenseman. More specifically, the NJ defensive corps does not show a point guard, per se. Dougie Hamilton is having an awful season and could be out the door this summer, but even at his best, he's an offensive-zone producer.
Luke Hughes can skate the puck exceptionally, but his decision-making and passing leave a lot to be desired. Simon Nemec could get there one day, but right now he's busy enough trying to become an 82-game player.
The Devils have largely gotten away with this because Jack Hughes is a savant who can drive the offense and finish plays across all three zones by himself.
Ever since Jack's freak injury, New Jersey's offensive output has plummeted. It's not due to a lack of capable producers; Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier, among them. At their best, the Devils are arguably the best rush offense in the NHL.
Adding arguably the best puck-retrieving, breakout defenseman in the NHL would play directly into their strengths.
The idea of Quinn and Jack creating magic together is appealing, and that would certainly happen at times—particularly on the power play—but head coach Sheldon Keefe might actually layer their shifts so that the Devils can have one game-breaker on the ice for 40-45 minutes out of 60.
Coincidentally, the player who would have most to lose from Quinn's addition is Luke Hughes. He's a lefty who would be locked into second-pair and PP2 usage for the long haul. If it's at his brother's expense, I don't think he'll have a problem with it.
Vancouver's Needs
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What the Vancouver Canucks need and what team leadership is looking for are not necessarily fully aligned.
The team is poorly managed, and there's a reason they're in a position where they may have to trade their franchise player and captain after missing the playoffs six of the last seven seasons.
The franchise, forever allergic to the idea of a rebuild, apparently does not see even the nascent departure of Hughes as a cause for one. For better or worse, they intend to compete. Their preferred package for Hughes will likely consist of pieces that will help them now.
At the top of the Canucks' shopping list this season has been an impact center. The team never replaced J.T. Miller, and Filip Chytil's lengthy concussion history hardly makes him a reliable option. The team has high hopes for 2025 15th-overall pick Braeden Coote,s but it will be some time before he can be an impact player.
Of course, trading Quinn Hughes means a Quinn Hughes-sized hole opening up on the blue line.
The Canucks do have internal options who can take on increased roles, but a capable offensive defenseman wouldn't hurt either.
With Marcus Pettersson and top prospect Tom Willander on the right side, and Hughes' being a departing lefty, the Canucks would ideally like left-handed defense in return.
Comparing to Precedent
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Looking to the past to gauge a Hughes trade won't net many answers because 26-year-old Norris Trophy defensemen don't usually hit the marketplace.
The closest comparable in recent memory? Erik Karlsson. The best offensive defenseman in the game at the time of his move from Ottawa to San Jose in 2018, Karlsson received two young NHLers in 24-year-old defenseman Dylan DeMelo and 23-year-old Chris Tierney, an A-list prospect in Josh Norris, depth prospect Rudolf Balcers, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick.
Like Hughes, Karlsson had one full year remaining on his contract before hitting unrestricted free agency. But Karlsson was 28, or two years older than Hughes is now, and Hughes is perceived as a better player.
The Rangers acquired 27-year-old Keith Yandle for two playoff runs in 2015. He cost top prospect Anthony Duclair, young depth defenseman John Moore, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick. Hughes is much better than Yandle was, and the Devils would presumably acquire him with an extension expected.
Matthew Tkachuk, traded to Florida in a sign-and-trade in 2022, brought back what was, at the time, a jaw-dropping haul. Jonathan Huberdeau was coming off a 115-point season. Mackenzie Weegar was a No. 2 caliber defenseman. Plus, a first-round pick. But Tkachuk was 24 years old at the time, and the COVID-related cap squeeze forced Florida to shed the salaries of NHLers they might otherwise have fought harder to keep.
With no clean mold from which to build a Hughes-to-NJ trade concept, we'll need to use the cited examples as guardrails and develop something new shaped by the unique factors in this situation.
What Might a Quinn Hughes Trade Look Like?
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Proposed Trade: Quinn Hughes to the New Jersey Devils in return for Dawson Mercer, Brenden Dillon, Anton Silayev, 2026 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick, and a conditional 2028 second-round pick.
The best place to start may be Dawson Mercer. The Canucks want a younger center who can make an impact right away. Dawson Mercer is 24 years old and has shown good two-way play in his five NHL seasons. He hasn't quite matched his career-high 27 goals and 56 points from 2022-23, but he's been limited by opportunity. He's an elite third-line center who is probably ready to take the jump into a larger role.
He'll have a hard time finding those opportunities in New Jersey. Nobody is dethroning Jack Hughes and Hischier as top-six centers. Mercer is signed at $4 million through 2027, and the Devils probably will have to move on and let him spread his wings elsewhere eventually.
Nemec is going to be thrown neck-deep into the Hughes speculation discourse as a like-for-like replacement. I don't love the fit for either team, however. The Canucks probably want left-handed defense. Nemec is a righty. For the Devils, they are likely to move on from Dougie Hamilton. They're going to need right-handed options.
Instead, let's take a look at Anton Silayev. The 10th-overall pick in 2024, Silayev is a 6'7 behemoth. He moves really well for his size, he plays a physical game, and he's a massive disruptor with his stick. Silayev has played well in the KHL, but he needs some time before he'll be ready for the NHL. It would pain the Devils to lose a prospect like Silayev, but this is Quinn Hughes we're talking about.
The Devils will need to clear the depth chart and move salary. Plus, Vancouver has to field a roster. One complicating factor for the Devils is how many of their depth players hold full no-trade clauses this season. I'm still going to include 35-year-old Brenden Dillon, who is from the outskirts of Vancouver and would see his icetime in NJ fall by the wayside if fellow lefty Quinn Hughes came aboard. Maybe he waives. He's a minute-eating veteran signed through 2027 who could play a role in Vancouver or possibly be flipped for assets at this or next trade deadline.
Additionally, draft picks are required. The Devils will include a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and a conditional 2028 second-round pick contingent on Hughes re-signing in New Jersey.
