The Ultimate “What If”: Quinn Hughes in a Winged Wheel

The NHL is built on the “almost” trades—the ones that would’ve—perhaps—helped shift the league’s balance of power if they’d actually crossed the finish line. Following the mid-December 2025 blockbuster that sent Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, a tantalizing detail emerged: there was a time when Hughes wanted to be a Detroit Red Wing. According to hockey insider, Elliotte Friedman:

“We talked about with Quinn Hughes, like Hughes wanted to go to the Red Wings.”

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The Team That Almost Was

The “What If” scenario for Hockeytown is terrifyingly beautiful. Imagine the current Red Wings roster alongside Hughes’ elite offensive transition. So, why did a Canucks-Red Wings trade fall through? Ultimately, it ended up coming down to GM Steve Yzerman’s disciplined ‘process’. According to insiders, Yzerman refused to move the massive haul required, which may have included Simon Edvinsson, without a guarantee.

“Steve Yzerman wasn’t doing that without an extension,” Friedman commented, lending to the notion that the lack of a long-term commitment froze the deal.

While Vancouver ultimately preferred Minnesota’s package of Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, and Liam Öhgren, the Red Wings’ insistence on certainty ended the homecoming dream for the U.S.-born Hughes who, as noted, “played two seasons with the U.S. National Development team, which is based in Plymouth, Michigan, just a half hour west of Detroit.”

The Reality Today

In the end, the reality may be bittersweet for fans in Hockeytown. Perhaps? Before the blockbuster December 12 trade, Hughes himself acknowledged the Wings’ trajectory and offered some well-deserved praise towards the Michigan-based team:

“Credit to them… they’ve done a good job through the draft. You see that coming to fruition now.”

Yzerman’s determined patience—seemingly—protected the Red Wings’ process, but as Hughes continues to excel, while breaking team records, in Minnesota, the “ghost” of this trade remains.

Was NHL All-Star and Norris Trophy Winner (2024), Quinn Hughes, the missing piece for the 30-16-4 Red Wings and, perhaps, another Stanley Cup banner?

Hockeytown, perhaps, will be asking this question for some time. But again, this is simply one of those “What if?” trade considerations to ponder.

Next: Five Weeks Later: Checking in on the Quinn Hughes Blockbuster