A Quinn Hughes move out of the Central Division could end up being a headache for the Colorado Avalanche.
Colorado is trying to defend its Central Division title in 2026-27, and the idea of one of the division’s better players landing elsewhere does not exactly help. Hughes was traded from Vancouver to Minnesota during the 2025-26 season and appeared in 48 regular season games for the Wild after the deal.
The trade that brought him to Minnesota already came at a steep price. The Wild sent forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to get Hughes. You can make a case that Vancouver came out ahead, but that kind of judgment may not be settled for a couple of years - unless Hughes is moved again.
That’s where New Jersey comes in. Hughes is tied to the Devils because both of his brothers play there, and if Minnesota decides to deal him again, the asking price is going to be massive. New Jersey could wind up paying a big haul for a player it might only receive in return, with no extra pieces coming back.
A return similar to the Vancouver deal makes sense here: three players and a first-round pick. The Devils also hold two first-round picks in each of the next two NHL Drafts, in 2027 and 2028, so Minnesota could push for two of those four picks instead of more players.
But that only becomes meaningful for Colorado if Minnesota nails those draft choices. The Avalanche still have a full season before the 2027 Draft, and nobody knows what the Devils will look like with or without Hughes.
He could help them enough that the first-round pick heading to Minnesota ends up being later in the round, which would soften the blow. Even then, a first-round pick can turn into a roster player, so that’s not nothing.
If Minnesota asks for a star player instead, that could be even tougher for Colorado to stomach.
Jesper Bratt is the name that stands out. He’s a top-six left wing, and if the Wild want to pair him with Matt Boldy, that would be a strong addition for Minnesota and a rough outcome for the Avalanche.
Bratt checks a lot of boxes. He’s a reliable 20-goal scorer, has cracked 30 goals once, and has 35 power play goals in his career. At 28, and signed through 2030-31, he’d also be the kind of player Minnesota could keep around for a while.
That kind of move might force Colorado to respond. Brock Nelson could become part of that conversation, and he’s known mostly as a regular-season producer who has had postseason issues. A Nelson move wouldn’t be a bad idea, though the return would have to be handled carefully by general manager Joe Sakic.
There’s also the larger concern with Nelson already in the picture. I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a fan of the Nelson extension, and while Martin Necas fits nicely with Nathan MacKinnon on the top line, he also falls into the category of underwhelming postseason performer.
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