NHLTR Mock Trade: Canucks Trade Quinn Hughes to Devils in Blockbuster Deal

The 2024-25 NHL season was an absolute roller coaster for the Vancouver Canucks, which ended with the president of the team stating captain Quinn Hughes is essentially going to eventual skip town to head to New Jersey to play with his two brothers.

It was a bizarre-timed statement from Jim Rutherford, considering Hughes has two seasons left on his contract, at a very reasonable $7.8 million AAV. An added element of interest was when the team decided to walk away from head coach Rick Tocchet, Rutherford called Hughes before the announcement was made public, and Hughes never picked up the phone. 

Meanwhile in Jersey, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald wants to make major changes this offseason, so the stars could be aligning to construct the blockbuster this summer, get it over with, and limit the distraction for the next two seasons.

NHLTR Mock Trade: Canucks trade Quinn Hughes to Devils for Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey, Dawson Mercer, and a 2026 first-round pick.

This trade gives the Canucks two d-men with very high ceilings in 21-year-olds Nemec and Casey, and Mercer up front, has the potential to be a top-line winger, who can play in all situations. Mercer scored 19 goals in 82 games last season, playing close to 18 minutes a night, including on both the power play and penalty kill. Nemec was the #2 overall draft pick in 2022, meanwhile, Casey was a second-rounder from the same draft. 

If Hughes has New Jersey on his mind, which certainly sounds like that's the case, the Canucks should be getting out ahead of it while the time is right, and the Devils are stocked with young talent. They'd be adding four solid pieces here for one of the best blueliners in the game, and while it may seem like a lot, there's a chance another draft pick heads the other way. 

Hughes brothers reunite, Canucks load up on young talent, while savings some money, this deal could be a win-win for both clubs.

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images