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RUMORS: What Vancouver or NJ Would Have to Pay to Reunite the Hughes. |
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Looking ahead a little bit in the crystal ball, it’s more than apparent that Quinn Hughes is going to be a big name in the summer’s rumor mill. Quinn has already let it be known that he wants to play in the NHL with his brothers on a team, prompting Canucks president Jim Rutherford to openly say that he is going to try to find a way to get Jack and Luke to Vancouver.
It’s important to understand that Jim Rutherford is the best horse trader in the NHL, meaning he is the best at trading player for player and has been for a couple of decades now. So it’s not easy to dismiss that he could bring Jack and Luke to Vancouver. With almost any other GM, I would dismiss it immediately, but with Rutherford, it has to be looked at….
What would the Canucks have to give up?
First off, the Devils would have to make this worth it if they were to move these guys. The fan base in New Jersey would definitely rather see Quinn Hughes join the brothers in Newark than lose Jack and Luke to British Columbia….
When it comes to moving Jack and Luke out west, there are two players that really matter in this situation: Jack Hughes and Elias Pettersson.
Let’s start by looking at Elias Pettersson, who has shown signs of being an absolute NHL superstar, but last year was a total and utter disaster. However, if he returns to the form this season and puts up 80 or 90 points again under a new coach ….without the Miller stuff going on….suddenly it’s not so ridiculous. And remember the Canucks have Quinn for two more years. So they could wait and see how Petterson does in 25/26. Maybe pull the string at the trade deadline even.
The other player would be Jack Hughes. Jack, when healthy, is no doubt an enormous factor. However, it’s starting to get to the point where you have to ask the question “Can he stay healthy?” Jack’s a smaller player and has missed a lot of time. I love Jack Hughes. I think he’s up there with the best stick handlers at speed in the league.
If both players are at their absolute best, it’s not unreasonable to consider a Jack for Elias swap. But that is a very big IF. The Canucks have to give up more to get Luke Hughes as well in the deal, but I don’t think that would be as hard to figure out. Although, Luke has been developing very fast and this year could be his breakout season….so suddenly that could become a much harder deal to make, the longer Vancouver weights
What would NJ have to give up to bring in Quinn?’
Since this trade would only involve one Hughes, who without question has been the most consistently productive and healthy Hughes, this all could get done a lot quicker. And it would actually behoove Vancouver to make this trade quicker because once Quinn gets within a year of his UFA, the price would go way down, and he could just walk to New Jersey on his own without NJ giving up a thing.
New Jersey would also love to make this move this summer because it would immediately wipe away the bad taste this past season has left in everyone’s mouth, and bring some bona fide excitement to the Devils fan base.
In order to make it happen this summer it’s going to take a major player going the other way. You have to remember in the situation that Vancouver is giving away the best player they have essentially. Quinn Hughes is a top five defenseman in the world right now. You’re not going to get him for just a second and third liners and draft picks.
The Devils would at least have to give up Jesper Bratt and Vancouver could sweeten the pot and even take a swing at Nico Hischier. Although I’m about 97 miles away from the Prudential Center, I can already hear the Devils fan screaming at me.
“They will not give up either. Why would they give up one of those players if they could get Quinn Hughes for free at the start of the 27/28 season?”
The NHL is about windows and the Devils may have to move one those two to have two legit shots at a Cup in 25/26 and 26/27.
That’s a lot of playoff money and a lot of ticket money over the next two seasons. That matters to every NHL team, but New Jersey is one of those teams that definitely needs to put a winning product on the ice to sell the way they want to sell. And they need two rounds of playoff money for their books.
What’s the Buzz?
What do you think happens?
1. Quinn waits until he’s a free agent and goes to New Jersey for free.
2. Vancouver manages to pry Jack and Luke away.
3. New Jersey manages to pry Quinn away.
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