Jack Hughes could be the key to Dylan Larkin trade with Devils

Perhaps the most beaten story so far this season has been the Dylan Larkin trade saga. But in a bit of an interesting twist, Larkin’s full trade list leaked into the mainstream. The usual suspects have long been confirmed, but the New Jersey Devils’ inclusion on the list certainly seemed intriguing.

On the surface, the Devils seem like a bit of an unusual destination. The chatter has focused on Larkin’s desire to win a Stanley Cup. And it’s not that the Devils are a rebuilding team or anything, but New Jersey isn’t as close to a championship at this point as, say, the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, or the defending champs, the Carolina Hurricanes.

So, the question begs: Why New Jersey?

The answer is simple: Jack Hughes.

Larkin and Hughes spent time together on the same line during the Olympics. They looked good together, generating plenty of high-quality chances for Team USA, even if they were in a bottom-six role with the uber-stacked lineup.

But it was Larkin and Hughes who ended up pairing for the Golden Goal that landed the United States’ first Olympic title since 1980.

That’s why it makes total sense that the Devils would be on Larkin’s trade list. However, actually making a deal happen might be easier said than done.

Path for Larkin from Red Wings to Devils is a long and winding one

The interest on Larkin’s part in heading to New Jersey does not mean the Devils are equally interested. If anything, paying Detroit’s price for the 30-year-old may not necessarily be something the organization wants to do.

Perhaps the best the Devils could do to satisfy the Red Wings’ desire for a young, top-six center is to send back Dawson Mercer.

But that situation opens up another question: Would analytics-crazed GM Sunny Mehta see the value in trading Mercer for Larkin?

And that’s just the beginning. There’s also the matter of fitting Larkin’s $8.7 million cap hit into the books. The Devils only have about $1.6 million in space at the moment. While moving Mercer’s $4 million would help, the club would still have to figure out a way to clear more space.

Even supposing Mehta bent over backwards to clear up enough room, would Larkin materially change anything for the Devils?

Given the chemistry between Larkin and Hughes, you would think that combination would work wonders for the Devils.

All told, if this is a deal that New Jersey can reasonably pull off without mortgaging the farm, the team should do it. But if it means pulling several rabbits out of the same hat, the Devils might be better off waiting until something drastically changes.

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