NHL Trade Rumors: Capitals' Huge Quinn Hughes Offer Revealed

Monday, December 15, 2025 , ,
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes reacts during 2025 game.

The Quinn Hughes blockbuster is done, and now the “what almost happened” stories are spilling out fast. 

One of the wildest is the Washington Capitals were reportedly in real conversations with the Vancouver Canucks. It was a serious, franchise shaking type of package, with Connor McMichael, prospect Cole Hutson, and two first round picks all mentioned as pieces Washington was willing to talk about.

Capitals’ Rumored Quinn Hughes Package Was Enormous

The key detail is that this was described as a package that was discussed, not necessarily a formal offer that got officially rejected. Still, it tells you how aggressive the Capitals were willing to be for a true No. 1 defenseman. 

It also explains why Ryan Leonard being a non starter matters so much here. If the Canucks wanted Leonard as the headliner and Washington would not even entertain it, that alone could have been the difference between close and “never happening.”

From the Capitals’ side, including McMichael plus multiple firsts is a massive pain point because it hits both the current roster and the future pipeline at the same time. Adding Hutson into that mix would have been another big swing, especially for an organization that clearly values its young talent and cost controlled upside.

Why the Wild Beat Washington to Hughes

The Minnesota Wild ultimately landed Hughes, and the return Vancouver got is exactly the kind of haul that made a team like Washington hesitate. 

In the end, Vancouver could ask for elite pieces because multiple teams were sniffing around, and Minnesota apparently had the combination of players and picks that the Canucks liked more.

Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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