Quinn Hughes Trade Fallout Has the Devils Considering Changes

Elliotte Friedman suggested on Friday’s episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast that the New Jersey Devils are in a situation where they’ll have to make some tough internal decisions.

The Devils haven’t looked like the same team for a while now, and around the league there’s a growing belief that things started to unravel once their interest in Quinn Hughes became public.

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Before that storyline leaked, the Devils were surviving injuries and still finding ways to win. At one point, they were sitting at 13-4-1 despite missing key pieces. Since then, the momentum has vanished. What was once a confident, structured group now feels like a team waiting for something—anything—to happen.

League chatter suggests the failed Hughes pursuit did more damage internally than many expected. Contract complications, no-trade clauses, and sensitive details leaking into the public sphere reportedly rattled the organization. Friedman suggested that when a business that delicate gets out, it doesn’t just disappear.

Devils Asking Tough Questions, Including Trades and Coaching

Friedman hinted that the Devils might have to do something, but that they can’t afford to react emotionally. The organization appears to asking hard questions internally. How did they get here? Why did things slide so quickly? And more importantly, how do they fix it?

Those questions are being asked not just in management meetings, but behind the bench as well. Sheldon Keefe addressed questions about his job security and noted he understands the business but is focused on getting his team ready for the next game and how the Devils need to “become a real hockey team.”

Since the Quinn Hughes situation surfaced, the Devils haven’t just lost games—they’ve lost their way. And there might be a change needed to get them back on the right track.

Next: Flames’ Kadri Willing to Consider Change: Trade on the Table