After three months of waiting and wondering when the drama surrounding Luke Hughes would end, the team announced on Wednesday that Luke Hughes had signed a seven-year extension worth $9 million annually. Now, part of the drama that was surrounding the deal not getting done was a rumor here or there that Tom Fitzgerald was going to trade for the Vancouver Canucks defenseman, and brother of both Luke and Jack, Quinn Hughes. The idea was that if he was going to trade for him, the package would be so massive that it would take up the time for Luke’s extension to get done.
Now that the deal is done, the idea of Quinn joining his brothers can become a tangible reality. There are a couple of factors that can influence the decision, all of which involve the Canucks, their GM Jim Rutherford, and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.
The 2025-26 season is a big one for the Canucks. While they may no longer have J.T. Miller, they still have their top players like Hughes, Brock Boeser, Connor Garland, and Elias Pettersson. It’s up to these guys, as well as their depth pieces, to try and make sure the Canucks keep pace in the Pacific Division.
Let’s say by the end of February, the Canucks are nowhere near the top of the Pacific. The team is going nowhere, and their play has been inconsistent. Quinn Hughes has a year and a half left on his deal in Vancouver, costing $7.85 million per season. If he decides to make himself open to a tradem many teams will be interested, but one team will make the most noise regarding this trade.
For Tom Fizgerlad, the 2025-26 season needs to be a good one as well. The Devils need to be a competitive team from start to finish. After paying Luke Hughes, the team should be good to go, even without Johnny Kovacevic to start the season.
The schedule will be more challenging, though, beginning with a trip to Carolina against the Hurricanes to start the season, followed by a home opener against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Suppose the Devils are in a very good spot by the end of February, as they were last year, in second place in the Metropolitan Division. In that case, they will likely make a significant trade at the trade deadline to consider themselves a serious contender for the Stanley Cup. This is where Tom Fitzgerald and Canucks GM Jim Rutherford can get the trade talks started.
Obviously, it would take a massive deal to pull this trade off, and it would most likely involve a first-round pick and a couple of key prospects. If Fitzgerald plays his cards right, he can pull off a deal that works for both sides, but it’s up to him to choose the prospects.
Who knows what happens during the season, but if it all leads to all 3 Hughes brothers being on the same team, that will be huge for the franchise in the future.