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Why not winning the Brady Tkachuk sweepstakes could benefit the Devils

It has been one week since Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers. Although the Devils missed out on the former Senators captain, this move could have created major implications for New Jersey.
ByNick Italiano|
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Apr 18, 2026, Raleigh, North Carolina: Former Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk comes off the ice after the warmups before Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes in the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Apr 18, 2026, Raleigh, North Carolina: Former Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk comes off the ice after the warmups before Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes in the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images | James Guillory-Imagn Images

Brady Tkachuk was a big name in the NHL trade market this offseason, with countless rumors that the American forward was going to be shipped out of Ottawa in the news cycle. The Florida Panthers struck a surprise blockbuster deal that raised alarms for some Devils fans who were optimistic that he would join his Team USA teammate, Jack Hughes, in New Jersey. A big-body forward who could produce offense not only by laying the body but also scoring and assisting at a proficient level was exactly what the Devils needed, but they once again missed out on making a huge deal.

This trade might prove beneficial to the New Jersey Devils, however, because of another player in the league who is also looking to be traded. Dylan Larkin, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, has requested a trade from the organization and has given general manager Steve Yzerman a list of three teams he wants to be traded to: the Florida Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Minnesota Wild. With Brady Tkachuk's move to the Florida Panthers, the trade list is narrowed to the latter two teams. 

If the Red Wings ultimately decide to move Dylan Larkin to Minnesota, salary issues could easily arise, making it difficult for the Wild to re-sign Quinn Hughes. Hopes of getting the third and final Hughes brother have been an exhausting topic for Devils fans, but this could give them hope. A free agent after the 2027-28 NHL season, if Quinn Hughes is not re-signed before the Minnesota Wild figure out their financial plan with nine total free agents this offseason, the possibility of him going to New Jersey could get substantially stronger. 

The New Jersey Devils might get lucky with who is available

Dylan Larkin is currently in his fourth year of his 8-year, $69.6M contract, carrying an AAV of $8.7M. The Wild already gave the highest contract in NHL history to forward Kirill Kaprizov, who carries 16.25% of the team's total cap, which is the most in the league. If Minnesota adds Larkin's contract without giving Detroit a key piece of their core, such as Brock Faber or Matt Boldy (who carry AAV's of $8.5M and $7M, respectively), the budget for a Quinn Hughes extension shrinks considerably pending their re-signing of free agents. 

So far, the offseason has been lackluster for the Devils, but the rest of the league has been quite active. The Brady Tkachuk deal to the Florida Panthers has shrunk Dylan Larkin's trade list to only two teams, and if the Wild acquire him without offloading cap space, the Quinn Hughes saga could get interesting during next year's offseason.

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