Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 14, 2025
The ongoing fallout from the Quinn Hughes trade in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said it was around the time of the American Thanksgiving weekend last month that Quinn Hughes informed the Vancouver Canucks that he wouldn’t sign a contract extension next summer.
Friedman claimed that several teams were deterred or concerned that Hughes wouldn’t commit to a long-term extension at this time. However, the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils weren’t bothered by it.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
The Devils felt they were in a better position because Hughes’ brothers, Jack and Luke, were on their roster. However, they couldn’t free up sufficient salary-cap space to make the deal happen.
Friedman believes the Wild’s offer (Center Marco Rossi, defenseman Zeev Buium, winger Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick) was the best one, adding there was no way the Canucks would’ve received a better deal.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Devils, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers were among six clubs confirmed to have made legitimate offers for Hughes. The Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes also showed some interest.
The Philadelphia Flyers also considered Hughes, but didn’t want to part with the assets the Canucks were seeking. LeBrun also believes the Washington Capitals weren’t that involved because they didn’t want to move the kind of pieces it would’ve taken to get the deal done.
Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, said he and his client weren’t able to guarantee to any of the interested clubs whether he would sign with them or not. At some point, Hughes will decide if he likes Minnesota enough to sign an extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: One thing that works to the Wild’s advantage is they’re the only club that can offer him an eight-year, front-loaded extension. However, Hughes will have to decide before Sept. 15, 2026. After that, the maximum term for re-signing players is reduced to seven years as per the updated collective bargaining agreement.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe admitted his players struggled to tune out the Quinn Hughes trade speculation swirling around their team.
Ever since Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported last weekend that the Devils contacted the Canucks about Hughes, multiple names surfaced as trade candidates. Defenseman Simon Nemec and center Dawson Mercer were mentioned as potential trade chips that could have gone to Vancouver as part of a package offer.
Nichols believes those players can rest easy for now, but noted that Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald continues to work the phones in search of a trade to help his struggling team.
THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh believes the Devils’ biggest area of need is forward. He claimed Fitzgerald has inquired about Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly. However, struggling clubs like the Predators are setting high asking prices. Fitzgerald faces overpaying to keep the team afloat, or try to ride this out and hope the prices drop.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury-battered Devils will get some help as their sidelined players return to action. Whether they will get back in time to prevent the club from sliding further out of contention remains to be seen.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reported the Canucks liked Washington prospect Cole Hutson when the two sides were discussing a potential trade package for Hughes. However, the Capitals didn’t want to part with their top defensive prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson, 19, is the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens star Lane Hutson. Chosen in the second round (43rd overall) by the Capitals, he’s in his second season with Boston University.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch wonders if the Quinn Hughes trade, and the goalie swap that saw the Edmonton Oilers ship Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry, will shake the trade market loose.
The St. Louis Blues are reportedly open for business, and the Canucks still intend to entertain offers for their UFA-eligible players. The Seattle Kraken, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and Nashville Predators are also prepared to make moves.
Garrioch pointed out that the upcoming holiday roster freeze begins at 11:59 pm ET on Dec. 19 and will remain in place until 12:01 am ET on Dec. 28.
problem with the Devils roster is that Fitzgerald handed out no trade (and no movement) clauses out to players like it was candy, and now is struggling to trade those players (Palat, Hamilton, Noesen) to improve the roster. Too many grinders and not enough talent, and nothing in Utica (AHL) is available to help with that, especially up front. Over the offseason everyone gushed about the Devils but I kept mentioning how Fitzgerald was ignoring the team depth, for the inevitable injuries known to frequent the Devils, especially at forward. Jack Hughes is irreplacable but not having a decent 2nd/3rd forward in the minors to step up, for the past few seasons now, is inexcuable by Devils management. Dawson Mercer is not a center, plays better as a winger. Glass is nothing more than a 3rd line center. Glendening is a PK and faceoff guy. No forwards in Utica are available to replace them, I know they have the Finnish #1 they drafted a few years back, but he is a RW and only 20, and still learning the North American game.
it sure looks like Fitzgerald boxed the team into a corner and can’t get out of it
What if NJ can’t sign Quinn in 2027? Wouldn’t it be hilarious if he signed back with Vancouver! Also curious what Drury was offering. Heard Lafreniere and Schneider named. Maybe he should be calling St Louis about Kyrou. Not sure how far you go with Sheary on top line.
Buium became the first defenseman with at least two points during his first period with the team. But more notably, at 20 years and 7 days, he is the youngest Canucks blueliner with a point in his team debut since… wait for it… Quinn Hughes.
You can’t make this stuff up.