This one is more of a message than anything. What would it take to get Quinn Hughes, the Canucks best defenseman, who is just 23 years old with four more years of term? It would take three premium assets. We’re not talking about premium assets like other teams. They would need two players already taken in the top ten of the draft and another draft pick the Canucks would get to use.
Here’s the thing, this trade isn’t even necessary from a team standpoint. The Devils have a really good defense from top to bottom. Next season, the Devils want to give Jesper Bratt a huge raise and add another top forward. Turning Nemec’s entry-level deal into Quinn Hughes’ $7.85 million contract would put the Devils into perpetual cap hell.
Putting all three Hughes brothers together is a nice dream. The Canucks tried to make that happen with terrible trade proposals when the Devils had the first-overall pick in 2019. Watching the Sedin Twins for so long had Canucks fans dreaming it could happen again.
Now, the Devils are dreaming the same thing. Unfortunately, dreams cost a lot to come true. The Devils already inexplicably got two Hughes brothers. Let’s celebrate that.