One of the teams that has emerged as an early loser in the Quinn Hughes trade is the New Jersey Devils. The stunning swap between the Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild left the Devils with egg on their face.
For months, chatter about a potential Hughes trade centered on the Devils reuniting all three Hughes brothers in New Jersey. But as soon as news broke that Hughes was heading to Minnesota, the funny trumpet sound blared for Tom Fitzgerald.
But let's play devil’s advocate (no pun intended). This trade could actually be a good thing for the Devils. The return for Hughes was massive, and the Devils, seemingly, just didn’t have the pieces. The Wild moved their top-line center, a highly coveted defensive prospect, and somewhat of a wild card. Plus, the Wild tossed in a first-round pick to boot.
Had the Devils ponied up that sort of haul, it could have cost them far too much to get the deal done. As Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet reported, no one else “came close” to the Wild’s offer.
Rutherford said Canucks were talking to eastern teams re Quinn Hughes, as per the player’s wishes, but Wild GM Bill Guerin called a week ago and asked if he could get in.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) December 13, 2025
Once Wild put together its offer, Rutherford said “nobody else came close to it.”
That situation alone means the Devils could have dodged a bullet. They avoided betting the farm on Hughes. But beyond that, there’s one other thing. Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, was adamant about not guaranteeing a contract extension to anyone trading for Hughes.
Brisson said he spoke to teams interested in acquiring Hughes.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) December 13, 2025
“The one thing I made certain about, under no circumstances could we guarantee a contract extension with anyone.”
That situation means the Wild have no assurance that they’ll keep Hughes beyond next season. Hence, a clear path opens up for the Devils to land Hughes. Yes, the move requires patience. But think about it. The Devils keep all of their crucial pieces and then land Quinn Hughes on top via free agency.
That assertion could go down the pipes if the Wild extend Hughes. But that’s a major IF right now. The Wild seem content with getting a season and a half out of Hughes. They have a minuscule window to win a Stanley Cup. And judging from the price paid for Hughes, there’s no telling if they have the pieces to go on a deep run this season.
If the Wild fall flat this year or next season, Hughes could be inching towards the exit. The prevailing chatter had centered on Hughes wanting to play on the East Coast. So, what’s stopping Hughes and his camp from seeking that via free agency?
Ultimately, the Hughes deal to Minnesota could be a blessing in disguise for the Devils. Of course, this could be dead wrong. But then again, Tom Fitzgerald could be breathing a sigh of relief, even if the Devils’ fanbase is ready to head to crisis counseling this weekend.