At this point, it’s universal knowledge in the hockey world that Quinn Hughes is on the trade block. The star defenseman on the Vancouver Canucks is heading to free agency next offseason, and like a used car, his value goes down each day. If the Canucks want the best return, the best time to trade him is now or soon.
The New Jersey Devils are the favorites to land him, especially since it’s well-documented that he wants to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke. That said, teams will want to bid for Hughes, and it’s a worthwhile move knowing they’ll have a top-tier defenseman with a chance to make two runs at the Stanley Cup with him.
So, the Devils can make a move but can they make the best offer? Let’s put on our Jim Rutherford hat and look at some offers, and like in Rutherford fashion, at the end is where all gets revealed, and the best offer is revealed.
Capitals: Ryan Leonard, Bogdan Trineyev & Ivan Miroshnichenko (for Hughes)
The clock is ticking on the Capitals to win another Cup before Alexander Ovechkin retires. There’s a good chance this season is his last, and if not, next season is probably his final one. That timeline lines up perfectly with an all-in push and a Hughes addition. The Capitals already have a playmaker at the point with Jakob Chychrun as their top-pair defenseman but Hughes, of course, adds another dimension.
There’s a tendency among fans when it comes to big trades to think of all the prospects in their farm system that are good but not great and swap them for an elite player and declare it a fair trade. The Capitals, however, have the young players to move and give the Canucks a haul. Ryan Leonard is the big name but Bogdan Trineyev and Ivan Miroshnichenko are two other forwards to keep an eye on. The Capitals will make a push for a Cup and expect their farm system to play a key role in that, even if Hughes isn’t the player they acquire.
Devils: Simon Nemec, Jesper Bratt & 2026 First
The Devils can wait things out, assuming they are the team he wants to eventually sign with. The truth is, the Devils and their general manager (GM), Tom Fitzgerald, might pull the trigger beforehand to salvage this season. They are in their contending window, and Hughes is the ideal defenseman to bring in for a win-now team.
Simon Nemec is a key part of any trade scenario. He’s the young rising star on the defense who is having a breakout year, someone the Canucks would want to help with their rebuild. It’s unlikely he’s ever at the same level as Hughes but he can be a core piece for longer.
Jesper Bratt is the hammer or the player that Fitzgerald can add to the deal to move the needle. He’s a vital part of the offense and particularly benefits from Jack Hughes as both skaters gash opponents with speed. However, if the Devils want to make a splash and outbid any team for Hughes, he’s the player they must offer.
Flyers: Tippett, Bump & Nesbitt
The Philadelphia Flyers have multiple young players on their NHL roster and prospects both in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the pipeline. It gives them an edge as they can stack up pieces that the Canucks want. The question is, what does GM Daniel Briere feel comfortable trading, especially since the Flyers are still in a rebuild and don’t want to move on from future core players?
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Between Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, Jett Luchanko, and Jack Nesbitt, the Flyers can offer two and still have a great prospect pool. The intrigue is whether Rutherford wanted Bump and Barkey, two forwards who have great chemistry on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and can both start on the same line for the Canucks. With Rutherford, he probably wants a center in the deal, so he’ll target Luchanko, who projects as a top-six player, while Briere will offer Nesbitt, who is more of a middle-six option.
When it comes to young NHLers, Owen Tippett is the player everyone is pointing to. The 26-year-old winger has nine goals and 10 assists this season and is a key part of the offense but not a star to build around. The Flyers can also throw in Cam York to outbid another team but they’ll caution against it if there’s no clarity on an extension (although Hughes puts this team at the top of the Eastern Conference for two seasons).
Red Wings: Alex DeBrincat, Marco Kasper & 2026 First
This team has been waiting to make a big trade or signing for years, yet they always come up short. The Detroit Red Wings have prospects on top of prospects, and there’s a good chance they throw all of them at the Canucks to make a deal.
The prospects are intriguing but the Red Wings must add a good player if they want to win the Hughes sweepstakes. Alex DeBrincat is a key part of their offense and a Michigan native who by all means, they don’t want to trade. Between him and Lucas Raymond, the Red Wings must move one for a player like Hughes.
There’s a lot of pressure on GM Steve Yzerman to make a splash. The Red Wings have one of the longest playoff droughts in the NHL, and patience is wearing thin on the “Yzerplan” that hasn’t taken a big step forward. With the Red Wings on the cusp of contention, this is the bold move they make.
Stars: Lian Bichel, Mavrik Bourque & 2027 First
The Dallas Stars have multiple young NHLers who can’t find regular roles on the roster. It happens with a team that has elite talent throughout the lineup. Lian Bichel and Mavrik Bourque are two players whom the Stars can move to land Hughes.
The question is, why do the Stars make this move? With the Tyler Seguin injury, they have some cap space to work with, and GM Jim Nill can make a big move. This is also their window to win, as they’ve been close to the Cup a few times but haven’t gotten over the hump. Acquiring Hughes gives them two good chances at winning it all and a year and a half to convince Hughes to stay long term (he likes his brother but does he like New Jersey taxes?).
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The Stars are close to the Cup. One issue they’ve had in the Western Conference Final in each of the past three seasons is the lack of playmaking at the point. They don’t have that difference maker who finds goals where there otherwise wouldn’t be any. Hughes takes them up that notch.
Which Hughes Offer Do The Canucks Take?
If the Devils are willing to throw in Bratt, they have the best deal on the table. The return gives the Canucks options but also a strong base for a rebuild as they have help in their forward unit and the defense. Better yet, the pieces aren’t prospects and are known commodities.
Rutherford doesn’t like rebuilds and prefers a sure thing, which explains why he’s flipped first round selections after blockbuster trades to land proven NHL players. In the Bo Horvat trade, he moved the first rounder to the Red Wings for Filip Hronek, and the JT Miller Trade gave him a pick that he used to add Marcus Pettersson.
The key will be the Devils willingness to outbid everyone. There’s a chance they just sit back and wait, knowing there’s a good chance they end up with Hughes in a few years anyway. If they refuse to enter a bidding war, then the Flyers and Red Wings (with the Stars having an outside chance) are all in play.
Which offer do you think the Canucks will take? Let us know in the comments section below!
