Insider reveals the teams that ran on Quinn Hughes, including NJ Devils, Hurricanes

NHL rumors cleared up after Pierre LeBrun detailed the market for Quinn Hughes before his trade. After much speculation, Hughes was changed to the Minnesota Wild on Friday, one less team was discussed, instead of New Jersey, which had more prominence, due to the presence of his brother Jack and Luke.

In his X post, LeBrun reported that Vancouver received firm offers from six teams. He confirmed that New Jersey was one of the most serious suitors. Detroit and the New York Rangers also made strong pushes. Carolina and Buffalo showed interest to a lesser degree. Bid volume explains the size of Minnesota’s winning bid.

“Confirmed teams that tried Quinn Hughes: New Jersey, Detroit, Rangers; and to some extent, Carolina and Buffalo,” LeBrun wrote.

Vancouver received Marco RossiLiam Ohgren, Zeev Buium and a 2026 first-round pick in exchange for Hughes. Minnesota paid a high price to get a true top defenseman.

Wildcats general manager Bill Guerin said players like Hughes are rarely available. He added that the cost was high but worth it. Minnesota felt the opportunity demanded action.

“Bringing a player like Quinn Hughes in here, you don’t get those opportunities that often,” Guerin said Saturday, via the NHL. “Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, all great kids, great players with bright futures. It’s definitely hard to part ways with guys you drafted, developed, spend time with…

“But like I said, when a player of Quinn’s caliber is available and you have an opportunity to get him, that comes at a cost and we were willing to do whatever it took.”

Vancouver Canucks message for Quinn Hughes after leaving the team

Quinn Hughes leaves Vancouver as one of the franchise’s top defensemen. Won the Norris Trophy in 2023-24 after scoring 92 points. He followed that up with another elite season and a strong playoff run. This year, he led the Canucks with 23 points at the time of the trade.

“Thank you, Quinn, for your leadership, heart and unforgettable moments. From the first shift to the captain’s ‘C’, you left an indelible mark on the Vancouver Canucks and our fans. I wish you nothing but success in Minnesota.” Canucks wrote to X.

For Minnesota, Hughes fills a major need. He steps in as their best defender and power play driver. The Wild now look like a serious threat in the middle. With Hughes in place, their push to win is accelerating right now.