Insider Makes It Official: Devils & Canucks Have Spoken About Quinn Hughes

It's been talked about ad infinitum (i.e. endlessly) ever since Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford casually dropped word after last season that his superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes would like to join forces with his NHL brothers Jack & Luke someday. Now, it seems that 'someday' is one step closer.

Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed on Hockey Night in Canada, that, for the first time, he can officially say that the New Jersey Devils (hockey home of Jack & Luke Hughes) have reached out to the Canucks to ask about Quinn Hughes. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has been one of the busiest men in hockey the past week or so, says Friedman, and he has seemingly started the process of at least testing the waters on a trade for the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman.

Once Vancouver announced that they were open for business and sent that email around to the league (a couple of weeks back), I do believe there was a conversation—at least one—between the Devils and the Canucks about Quinn Hughes. And I stress, I do not believe there is anything imminent... But I do believe that conversation was had about where things stand and where they might be going.

The Devils have less than $3 million in cap space currently, so as Friedman notes, in any acquisition they make, it's "dollar in, dollar out." In other words, bringing a player in, particularly one with a significant cap hit, will necessitate eliminating some players from the current roster. So, certainly, a lot of balls to juggle for Fitzgerald as he tries to figure out how he'll bring in the big name he so desires. 

But Hughes isn't the only notable player on his radar, as both Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly of the Nashville Predators are targets as well. 

We've looked at one blockbuster possibility that the Devils & Canucks could look at, but as Friedman insisted, he simply doesn't know if the two sides are even far enough along to have discussed actual names yet. 

But this will be a situation that will continue to be monitored closely in the weeks ahead. 

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