NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2025
The latest speculation regarding Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, plus the latest on the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHERE COULD QUINN HUGHES GO IF HE LEAVES THE CANUCKS?
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma noted the uncertainty over Quinn Hughes’ future with the Vancouver Canucks has led to a growing line of suitors for the 26-year-old superstar defenseman.
Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
Hughes has a year remaining on his contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1, 2027. If an extension isn’t in the works, Kuzma believes the Canucks could move him for a multiplayer return to get younger and eventually better.
Kuzma thinks any team acquiring Hughes will want assurances he’ll be more than a one-year rental player. He thinks ties to certain teams could determine where the former Norris Trophy winner could land.
The Detroit Red Wings could be an option, given that Hughes spent his formative years in Michigan with the US National Team Development Program and the NCAA Wolverines. Kuzma speculated the Canucks could push for winger Lucas Raymond, rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, rookie center Nate Danielson, and a 2026 first-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: To which Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman will reply, “Well, thanks for the call, and the best of luck in your future endeavors”. Giving up Raymond would blow a big hole in their forward lines. It’s also unlikely he’d give up both Sandin-Pellikka and Danielson.
Kuzma also noted the obvious tug for Hughes to head to New Jersey, where his brothers (Jack and Luke) play for the Devils. There’s also the Philadelphia Flyers, who are coached by former Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The asking price for the Devils would be defenseman Simon Nemec and a first-round pick in 2026 for sure. Center Dawson Mercer and rookie winger Arseny Gritsyuk would also likely be part of it.
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reported a Flyers source claimed the team hasn’t had any conversations with the Canucks about Hughes, but they are interested in him.
Di Marco speculated that winger Tyson Foerster and top prospect Porter Martone could be part of the Canucks’ asking price. He thinks the Flyers would prefer sending a package to Vancouver centered around a defenseman like Jamie Drysdale or Cam York.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks would likely hold firm to their projected offer rather than one centered around Drysdale or York. The Flyers probably won’t get into the bidding for Hughes, based on Di Marco’s comment that they don’t want to gut their roster in a trade.
THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently looked at which members of the Toronto Maple Leafs were most likely to be traded and those who are not.
Of the most likely trade candidates, Dixon listed forwards Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann, and Matias Maccelli as those who might have more value to another team than the Maple Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson’s been a fixture in trade rumors since the summer of 2024. He shows flashes of scoring potential, but he remains unable to establish himself as a reliable top-six forward.
McMann had a promising 20-goal performance last season, but has just six in 26 games thus far this season. The Leafs hoped Maccelli might regain the 57-point form of his 2023-24 season, but he has only nine points in 22 games and was a healthy scratch in three of the Leafs’ last four games.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos suggested the Leafs might be able to draw on their goaltending depth at the trade deadline.
If Anthony Stolarz can establish himself as a 1A or 1B goalie with Joseph Woll once he returns from injury, Kypreos suggested dangling a goalie prospect such as Dennis Hildeby or Artur Akhtyamov as a trade chip. If Hildeby shows he’s ready for a larger role, that could make Stolarz a trade candidate, though they’d have to work around his 16-team no-trade list.
Kypreos believes the Maple Leafs’ biggest need is finding a puck-moving defenseman to take some of the burden off of Morgan Rielly.
McMann had a promising 20 goal season last year but has only 6 in 26 games this year. Let’s do the math. 6 goals in 26 games works out to a 19 goal pace in 82 games. Pretty much the same. He is what he is. A 15-20 goal 30-35 point player. Value as a depth forward but not a top line players
First, McMann was expected to perform better this season. Second, his six goals over 26 games have been punctuated by an eight-game stretch and a six-game stretch where he was held without a goal. Unless he improves that over the remainder of this season, he won’t come close to 19 goals in 82 games.
Lyle that’s just the way it is with middle six players. 20 goals is a goal every four games. Doesn’t mean that they will score a goal every four games. They could score three games in a row then go cold for several games. I’m sure he’s not the only one. A team just has to hope that everybody doesn’t go cold at the same time. 6 goals so far still projects to 19 if he continues at this pace.
McMann is 29 years old. Can’t be expected to get better. As I said he is what he is.
Well, he got the 1st goal tonight at the 53-second mark to put them 1 up on Carolina.
Well the glass is always half empty when it comes to the Leafs and their players…nothing new to see. I don’t think McMann isn’t capable of potting close to 20 goals especially if he plays and doesn’t get an injury. He is definitely a middle 6 player and chief has him as well as offensive minded players play a tougher style which some clearly can do while others are having issues with their consistency.
Maybe putting him with Roy and Joshua on the third might unlock his potential. He does have all the things you look for in a player except the one trait I find most valuable, consistency.
As for Robertson, he’s also quite serviceable and somehow doing well, for a smaller player and what’s being asked of him and the team. I think he too has value but having said that, I am not implying that value is very high but reasonable.
Maybe if they didn’t boo Mariner out of town, they wouldn’t be having issues finding a top 6 forward.
Great comment…out of nowhere and unrelated. Brian you go girl.
I gotta believe that Jason is calling Jim Nill and saying, “Hey, let’s bring in Nick.We can get him for a bag of pucks and he’ll be happy again, which in turn will make him productive. And, I’ll work with him to be a better player”.
I don’t think it’s a high risk scenario. Give the Leafs a prospect and a low draft choice so they feel they get something.
I understand they want a haul for Quinn, any GM in that position would. But I also believe, and could be wrong, that the Canucks have put themselves into a box. From NJ’s perspective, why give up that massive haul and have to find a way to work it in the cap, when they can wait two years. As for other teams, if its a 1.5 year rental, then I am not sure I give up the haul the Canucks are looking for. You have to give to get for sure, but it also has to be within the circumstances of the situation.
probably to get the jump on it. With Luke signing a 5 year extention, so that he and Jack will be free agents in the same year, sure made it seem like there is a plan for all 3 brothers to be playing in the same spot, 5 seasons from now. so instead of waiting only to find a team trade for Quinn, sign him long-term and then watch Jack/Luke leave for that team in 5 years, would be heartbreaking
any trade by NJ for Quinn will need to take into account the cap. NJ would need to include Hamilton’s contract to make the numbers work, meaning a bigger trade.
Hamilton
Mercer
Nemec
multiple 1st(s)
for
Quinn H (and extention)
1 more player, probably from AHL/ECHL to make the max contracts fit
Just a clarification. Jack’s contract runs through 2030. Luke’s contract through 2032. And if that what it takes to get Quinn (assuming Hamilton is agreeable to go there), I would do that in a heartbeat if I am the Canucks, Devs might think that over, but think they pass,
“Kuzma speculated the Canucks could push for winger Lucas Raymond, rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, rookie center Nate Danielson, and a 2026 first-round pick.”
Wow! This is obviously a MASSIVE overpay for Quinn!
Raymond and a 3rd should be enough for Quinn…..however I don’t think Y would make Raymond available because of his importance to the Wings offensive production! Maybe one of ASP/Danielson and the equivalent of 2 1sts would be closer to an offer for Quinn
So… who was it that said macelli was better for the leafs than rust would have been?😝
Still think Winnipeg should be all in for Hughes. There window to win is now. Having 2 rounds with Hughes at an affordable cap hit makes it worth it. Not sure what it would take. Perfetti, lambert, 1st round pick and another high end prospect??
Some suspected the Sens might be up to something with both Yakemchuk and Halliday out of the Belleville line up last night. Looks like Halliday has been called up for tonight’s tilt with the Rangers. Sens dont’ have much in the prospect cupboard, but those two are ‘IT”.
Yeah Dark G, Halliday up (again), this time to replace Eller who’s day-to-day with an injury. Also out tonight is Zub, and with Chabot deemed to be at least 10 days removed from returning, the D looks a bit thin for tonight. Gilbert will slot in at LD beside Jensen on the 3rd pairing, while Sanderson will skate alongside Spence and Kleven with Matinpalo on the first 2 pairings. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Yakemchuk here as a last-minute recall (Belleville’s not that far away) to provide a 7th D swing man for tonight. That could explain his being scratched last night.
Keep an eye on Kaliyev – he’s not far from being recalled if he keeps performing like he has so far in Belleville – 21gp14g 9a 23 pts … and playing aggressively.
Yes, it’s unfortunate about Zub. He like most of the Sens D had a monster night against the Habs. Kleven and Spence had a huge bounce back game in particular, absolutely destroying their opposition 11-1 on dangerous chances.
D is thin, but I like the pairings. All the guys have played in the “system” and Spence and Sandy have done well in their limited time. Would be interesting to see Yak come in and give Jensen a night off if he needs it.
Rangers have been playing well, especially on the road, so should be a tight game tonight.
If and when Ottawa calls up Kaliyev they should plan for him to stay. He would have to clear waivers to go back to Belleville and chances are another team will claim him
I thought the Sens could use an emergency call up…good for 10 games or 30 days. Don’t think they’ve used theirs yet. I could be wrong though.
I think Robertson is being badly misused. He’s a top six player, and plays well there when given a chance. But the guy is yanked, or dropped to the 4th line any time he sneezes.
As I said, he’s a top six player. Put him there. Leave him there. Let him develop. I believe that if they did that 3 years ago, he’d be a weapon by now.