Insider Links Devils’ Metropolitan Division Rival to Quinn Hughes

Changes are coming to the Vancouver Canucks, and after Monday night’s report from Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman that they’re listening to all veteran players aside from Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek, those changes could be coming sooner than later.

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There’s no sugarcoating it, their start to the 2025-26 season has gone about as bad as they could have imagined. They are 9-12-2 and sit 30th in the league standings. This was supposed to be a pivotal year for convincing Hughes to stay long-term.

That attempt has fallen flat on its face, and while Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin aren’t willing to publicly admit it yet, soon enough Hughes will be on the block himself. 

The hockey world assumes that he’ll inevitably be dealt to New Jersey to play with brothers Jack and Luke, but insider Frank Seravalli doesn’t think it’s such a sure thing. He mentioned a Metropolitan Division rival of the Devils as a potential suitor for Hughes: the Philadelphia Flyers.

Seravalli said: 

“I think they’re one team in the Metropolitan Division, in the Eastern Conference, that would be salivating to try and get their hands on Quinn Hughes, but they’re far from alone. Everyone circles New Jersey because of his two brothers that are playing there, and obviously, that makes a ton of sense, but how does New Jersey pull it off? And does even acquiring Quinn Hughes come at the expense of Luke Hughes, like Luke can’t run PP1 if Quinn Hughes is on there,”

The 26-year-old Hughes is in year five of the six-year, $47.1 million extension he signed with the Canucks back in 2021, eligible to become a UFA after the 2026-27 season.

Philadelphia is a Sneaky Good Option for Quinn Hughes

Not many have thought about the Flyers as a potential landing spot for Hughes, but with Rick Tocchet now at the helm, it’s a very interesting possibility.

Hughes was open about his love for Tocchet as a coach during his time with the Canucks, so there’s no doubt he’d be happy to reunite with his former bench boss.

In terms of the direction in Philadelphia, they appear to be on the rise with the likes of Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras, with whom Hughes is good friends, leading the charge up front.

What they need to improve is the blue line, and what better way to do so than by adding a two-time All-Star and Norris Trophy winner. His addition could also slot guys like Travis Sanheim, Cam York, and Jamie Drysdale into roles better suited to their abilities.

Pair all of that with lots of draft capital, intriguing prospects, and a plethora of cap space, and the Flyers should absolutely be a team to watch in the Hughes sweepstakes.

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