The New Jersey Devils have long kept a close eye on Quinn Hughes, and the latest word from Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast only heightens that interest.
Friedman noted that extension talks between Hughes and the Minnesota Wild appear to have slowed considerably this summer, delivering a development that feels surprising given how the trade played out last season and how central the star defenseman has become to Minnesota’s plans.
Friedman stated this once earlier in the summer and as time has ticked on, he’s made his position even more clear: “It has surprised me a little bit with how long this has taken with Hughes.”
He followed that by saying, “I don’t think there has been a ton of talks recently between Quinn Hughes & the Wild.”
Those comments landed on Tuesday’s episode and immediately raised eyebrows across the league. Hughes became eligible for an extension on July 1 and is entering the final year of the deal he signed with Vancouver years ago. Most expected something to get done relatively quickly, especially after Bill Guerin spent significant assets—including Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick—to acquire him in December. Friedman’s update suggests the process has cooled more than many anticipated.
The market has shifted this summer. Big contracts handed out to younger stars have reset expectations around AAV numbers, and that can complicate negotiations for established players like Hughes. Friedman has previously projected a three-year deal around $18 million annually that would line Hughes up for unrestricted free agency at the same time as his brother Jack Hughes, but the lack of recent conversation creates room for other possibilities. Hughes has said he likes it in Minnesota and is open to re-signing, yet he also informed the Vancouver Canucks in the Winter he’d like to play with his brothers who are both in New Jersey.
For the Devils, this update carries obvious implications. As previously reported at New Jersey Hockey Now, the organization has been linked to Hughes for years because of the chance to reunite him with Jack and Luke Hughes. The Devils were in the mix when Vancouver moved him last season but Tom Fitzgerald couldn’t convert.
A stalled extension in Minnesota does not mean a trade is imminent, but it does keep the door open. If talks remain quiet into training camp or the early part of the season, Minnesota could face pressure, and New Jersey is watching closely for an opening. The Devils already have a young, high-end core built around the Hughes brothers. Adding Quinn would transform the blue line overnight and create a unique family dynamic rarely seen in the modern NHL.
Timing matters. In the evolving age of player empowerment, it appears one of two things could be developing here. Either Quinn is seeking top dollar, and holding out for it as he has time. Or, the idea is to play with Jack and Luke sooner than later.
Friedman has said in other appearances that he would start asking harder questions if nothing is signed by the start of the season. That window is approaching. Hughes has spent the summer with family, including time with Jack, which some sources have joked explains the lack of urgency. Still, the longer the silence continues, the more speculation grows about whether Minnesota can lock him up or whether other clubs—including the Devils—might eventually find a path.
Hughes produced at a high level after the trade, setting franchise marks for the Wild and helping them reach the second round. Minnesota mortgaged pieces of its future to get him and clearly wants him long-term. Yet Friedman’s comments indicate the negotiations have not been as active as expected. That reality gives the New Jersey Devils a reason to stay alert. Any crack in Minnesota’s ability to close a deal would revive the long-standing hope of bringing all three Hughes brothers together in Newark.
For now the situation remains fluid, but as the days tick on, the pressure mounts on Minnesota, and the chances of Quinn uniting with his brothers sooner than later only increase.
James is a fully credentialed New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and the … More about James Nichols