NHL Rumor Mill – December 10, 2025
Check out the latest Quinn Hughes speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reports the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils have had contact regarding Quinn Hughes going back to last summer, but he wonders how far they are in actual trade talks.
Kypreos claimed New Jersey defenseman Simon Nemec is “out there”, along with center Dawson Mercer, and any of the Devils’ first-round draft picks over the next three years have to be in play.
Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
According to Kypreos, the Canucks believe there are teams open to the idea of acquiring Hughes without any assurances of signing him to a contract extension once his current deal expires in 2027. He wondered if the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks might get involved in the bidding.
The Canucks seek four or five pieces for Hughes, including roster players, prospects, and draft picks. They want the first-round picks to be unprotected.
DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek wondered if Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman would attempt to make a major move by acquiring Hughes.
Marek noted that Yzerman has a reputation for being patient, but pointed out that they have lots of salary cap space and won’t have a franchise player to spend it on in next summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. He argued that it might be time for Yzerman to start drawing on some of his promising prospects as trade bait to add an impact player now.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted the Devils aren’t believed to be the only team to have called the Canucks about Hughes. He noted the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins have also been linked to the superstar defenseman.
Nichols considers the Red Wings as the only real threat to the Devils’ chances of landing Hughes. He noted that they have more assets to tempt the Canucks, including at center with Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson as players of potential interest.
However, Nichols questioned whether the Wings and other clubs would trade away assets if Hughes isn’t interested in signing an extension with them. He pointed out that the opportunity for Hughes to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey gives the Devils an edge.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Kypreos, some teams might not have an issue with trading away assets to get Hughes as a two-year playoff rental. Nevertheless, Nichols makes a good point that not everyone will want to give up a king’s ransom for a player they’ll lose to free agency in 2027.
The Red Wings have another advantage over the Devils, and that is in salary-cap space.
For this season, the Wings currently have over $17 million in available cap space, while the Devils are pressed for cap room. If the Devils intend to acquire Hughes this season, they must shed considerable salary to make room for his $7.85 million average annual value
For 2026-27, the final season of Hughes’ contract, the Red Wings have a projected $41.8 million, while the Devils have $10.35 million. Even if we factor in the cost of re-signing players, the Wings would still have a significant edge.
For the 2027-28 season, the Devils have over $47 million, but we can expect that number to drop significantly by next season as players are re-signed and new ones are added via trades and free agency. The same applies to the Red Wings and their projected $77.2 million, but even then, they still have the advantage.
Hughes could accept a trade to another club like the Wings, decline to sign an extension, and hit the UFA market in 2027. However, the Devils must still clear considerable cap space if they want to reunite Quinn with Jack and Luke.
Well, if NJ is outta the Quinn Hughes sweepstake, maybe they can trade Hamilton, Dawes and a 1st (top2 protected) and a 4th for Bouchard and a 2nd😉
And wait for Quinn to be an FA
Why do you value Bouchard so highly?
Edmonton’s best D! He is almost a pt per game this season! Just not as valuable defensively.
Not sure if you were being sarcastic LJ? If so, nice work!
I know you like to spitball these trades Johnny, and people discuss, usually ripping them. So I will too, why not.
I am firmly on the side that Edmonton hangs up the phone after they stop laughing.
Yes Bouchard struggled with bad decisions earlier this year, and early last year. But he turns it around, like he has this year again, and then kills it in the playoffs each of the last 2 runs to the SCF. Have to admit, it’s a strange thing. But he always turns it around.
He has 89 pts in 82 playoff games, that’s elite.
His regular season point production is elite. He drives possession more than any other Oiler, including the big 2 C’s. It’s not close.
If there is a D-man who makes better passes out of his zone to generate rush chances I don’t know who it is. Better working the top of the umbrella on the PP because he can wire it too?
He is not getting traded for a past his prime D-man, AHL tender, a 1st and a 4th. Plus the Oil throw in a 2nd?
Bouchard has warts, so does Hughes. A guy that small can’t block out a big forward and sure as heck isn’t going to break up a cycle.
On a side note after talking about Bouchard, I still wonder why Team Canada still has a hate on for including Bouchard or Skinner on Team Canada. They cannot possibly say that they have better options than those 2. Bouchard is the top D man in Edmonton and he’s turning it on. And you cannot possibly tell me that Montembault is better than Skinner. Skinner backstopped Oilers to 2 Stanley Cup finals and he stoned Dallas Stars both times.
Granted his safe percentage isn’t the greatest this year, but that’s no different than Binnington and Oilers defense is crap in front of him for most of this year.
Brian that post was eyebrow raising. To go from Roy Marty to price maf to Monty and skinner? What a precipitous drop off in Canadian goalie talent.
Neither Monty or Skinner will don the Maple Leaf at the Olympics in 2026.
Thompson as the starter, with Kuemper and Wedgewood fighting for the #2. Maybe they bring Binnington because he was in net for the 4 Nations win, but that would be a mistake IMO. Unless he turns it around and gets on a serious heater, but his play this season would suggest that isn’t happening.
Bouchard you can make a solid case for, but Makar plays the role he is best at. Drive offense from the back end. Makar is the best in the world doing that. Plus the speed of the Olympics will be crazy. Need to be a great skater to play D in that tourney. Bouchard is solid in that department, but not elite. That is why Harley was the call up last year, he can wheel.
Bring him as insurance if Makar gets hurt and they need a PP QB.
It was already said Van wants the 1st rd picks unprotected and Bouchard needs a real defensive D to play with to be effective. No way that trade happens
Detroit could get Quinn, but it would take Edvinson, Kasper, a prospect such as Mazur (who is arguably NHL ready) and a 1st. That is a lot to give up!!
One pundit put forth a NYR trade of Laffy, Laba and Schnieder for Quinn………3 NHLers for Quinn! I think this would be more than very appealing to the Nucks as it could keep them relevant in the NHL.
Ideally, Rangers would get Zibanejad to waive nmc. Vancouver a popular spot for Swedes but still doubt Zib waives. Laba has been a pleasant surprise and could become 2C in Vancouver, something that’s not happening anytime soon in NY. Would think Van would prefer a LD over Schneider.
Schneider plays both sides
Johnny Z. Schneider has played some LD as a way of getting him in top 4, but not sure NY would want to move him with Fox already out of lineup. Maybe if Mancini back to NY? I do see Rangers as a team in the mix, especially if Fox is out for awhile. Hughes was with JT for 6 years. NY/NJ rinks 14 miles apart, putting brothers in same area.
Rangers need to compete NOW! If Laf is traded, I’d look to give Panarin a 1 year extension.
Good points Slick!
But many pundits have RD in their trades for Quinn
Without Hughes, the Canucks are not relevant. If I were the Canuck’s GM and was planning on moving Hughes, it would signal a complete rebuild. An unprotected 1rst would be a necessary return just to get in the door. If they redrafted the 2018 class, Quinn would probably go no. 1
Including Lafrenniere at over 7 million per year shouldn’t be appealing to any team.
My money is and has been on DET landing Q Hughes. He is good friends with Larkin, played at U of M and has his permanent residence in Michigan. It makes too much sense to me.
There are two type of teams that isnt NJ that could be interested in Hughes and that he possibly would resign with. Contenders like Carolina, Dallas or teams that are stacked for the future and are almost already there like Anaheim, Mammoth, Columbus. Hughes could make a team like Anaheim a serious contender now. Not sure Detroit or NJ can outbid those teams, and Hughes could sign a four year deal there
I always thought the same in regards to Anaheim as a sneaky good landing spot for Hughes. If the Ducks are willing to part with Senneke the Dman Mintkuyev maybe a pick for 2 plus postbseason runs maybe more of Q Hughes.
Would Dallas trade Harley+ for Quinn?? (medium +)
Would Carolina trade Jarvis and Nikishin for QH??
Would CLB trade Silinger, Mateychuk and a 1st for QH?
Would the Ducks trade McT, Mintyukov, And their 2 extra 2027 2nds for Quinn?
“Would Dallas trade Harley+ for Quinn?? (medium +)” No, they won’t. Besides, they need right-side blueline depth, Hughes doesn’t address that.
“Would Carolina trade Jarvis and Nikishin for QH??” No, they won’t. They need an established scoring forward to bolster their weak power play. That’s why they went after Rantanen and expressed interest in Marner last season.
“Would CLB trade Silinger, Mateychuk and a 1st for QH?” You’re kidding, right? The Canucks would hang up on Don Waddell if he made that pitch.
“Would the Ducks trade McT, Mintyukov, And their 2 extra 2027 2nds for Quinn?” Check the standings, they don’t need him.
Yeah, well, I posed the question to Kent. I was not advocating these trades but asking “what would those teams have to give for Quinn”.
Agree. The two last trade propositions are preposterous.
Who needs two more first rounders in 2026 draft LESS that the Blackhawks?
Whose missing the exact type of backline attacker Quinn Hughes is more than Chicago?
They just need to get in Quinn’s ear that the absence of competing in the 2026 playoff would be a follow-up to many more years as the ‘hawks team grows. Personally never understood how the league easily helped Burkie get both Sedans.
Now the Hughes family is making quite the ask: Acquire other brother, stay competitive and moreover IMPROVE to a true Cup contender.
Does this mean the established Devil bros will take home town deals with THEIR re-ups?
Because Fitz sorted gets handcuffed into a cap situation that be a jam in further player adds.
I posted something similar yesterday Bill. Basically NJ didn’t make sense, for NJ.
And to be fair to Hughes a reporter asked him if he would like to play with his brothers someday, and he said yes. Which of course, he said yes. Basically that seems to be what this assumption is based on.
That doesn’t mean he or NJ is seriously considering it as a realistic option.
Hawks would be a good fit, I think SJ & DET would be too.
It makes to much sense to me that if the money can t be worked out in NJ that Detroit has the resources,young NHL ready players and money to make it happen.