A Splashier Eastern Contender Could Push to Trade for Quinn Hughes

The Quinn Hughes saga may be about to get more crowded.

Since the blockbuster trade that sent Hughes from Vancouver to Minnesota, the Wild have reportedly struggled to work out a long-term deal with their new star defenseman — a stalemate that’s put Minnesota in a difficult spot. There are questions about whether the Wild will get the Hughes deal done, which opens the door for clubs like the New Jersey Devils (who have his brothers on the roster) to get in the mix. But, they may not be the only ones.

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According to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, the Philadelphia Flyers are quietly positioning themselves as a real threat in the Hughes conversation.

Kurz writes:

“Here’s what we know and have reported here before: Hughes had a great relationship with Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet in Vancouver and is good friends with Trevor Zegras. The Flyers were interested in Hughes last season before he was dealt to the Minnesota Wild but were informed the Vancouver Canucks had no interest in moving him here. When rumors were flying this summer about fellow star defenseman Zach Werenski, the Flyers checked in on him before Werenski repaired his relationship with the Columbus Blue Jackets. And, of course, the Flyers are clearly going big-game hunting after offer-sheeting Leo Carlsson. They are ready to try to add a star player while making that player one of the highest-paid in the league because of their salary-cap flexibility.”

That sounds like a lot of reasons to wonder if the Flyers, who have been interested before and clearly like taking big swings, would get in the running for Hughes.

With the Canucks no longer a part of the equation, that removes one hurdle. The only other obstacle is the fact that the Wild still want to get Hughes signed. If the extension process drags out, that may no longer be a roadblock. How long before the Wild realize they have little choice but to explore a trade if a new contract can’t get done? The door could be open for Philadelphia to make a serious push. And according to Kurz, the Flyers are ready to use their significant salary-cap flexibility to make it happen.

The Flyers have already made it clear they aren’t afraid to spend money. They’ve also been arguably the most aggressive team in the NHL this offseason. General manager Daniel Briere has shown he’s willing to make bold decisions since taking over the Flyers’ rebuild. He’s willing to spend big and move quickly when a star-caliber opportunity presents itself, and a chance to land a top-pairing, franchise-altering defenseman like Hughes could be exactly the kind of move he’s been waiting for.

For the Devils, who have been widely assumed to be the frontrunner if Hughes becomes available, the emergence of a second aggressive suitor makes things a bit more complicated. They’d still be the favorites since both Jack and Luke Hughes play for the team, but that could only be when free agency is an option. The Flyers might take a gamble and bring in Quinn, knowing that they could pry Jack and, eventually, Luke out of New Jersey. Either that, or Philadelphia is willing to show up big time on a short-term deal and try to win in the window Quinn is comfortable giving them.

Kurz writes, “If Hughes wants a three-year extension — which would make him an unrestricted free agent in 2030, the same year as his brother, Jack, in New Jersey, would become a free agent — I would guess that would be palatable for the club. It would give them some runway to become a true contender if you assume the young players on the roster continue to progress.”

Nothing is imminent, and Minnesota hasn’t publicly signaled it’s ready to move Hughes. But with a contract standoff lingering and at least two Eastern Conference teams now circling, the situation is one to watch closely as the season approaches.

Next: Ducks Could Trade Chris Kreider to Make Room for Cutter Gauthier