New Jersey Devils fans have spent plenty of time imagining what it would look like if Quinn Hughes ended up skating alongside Jack and Luke in Newark. The family tie is obvious, the fit on paper is easy to sell, and this summer’s very public appearances from the three brothers only added fuel to the idea.
But the idea comes with a real price tag, and that’s where things get complicated.
Quinn Hughes was acquired by Minnesota after Tom Fitzgerald couldn’t get a deal done last season, while Bill Guerin was willing to meet the asking price to bring the former Norris Trophy winner to the Wild. It was a bold move from Guerin, especially because Hughes did not sign a long-term extension. Now, with training camp nearing, he’s in the final year of his contract, which means Guerin may have to move him before the deadline if he wants to get something back instead of risking losing him for nothing.
That’s where the Devils enter the picture as the most obvious landing spot. If Quinn were dealt to New Jersey, the brothers would finally be together.
It’s the kind of storyline fans can latch onto immediately. But the hockey side of it isn’t so clean.
The first problem is money. Quinn made it clear on his recent appearance on 32 Thoughts that he has his sights set on becoming the highest-paid defenseman in the league.
That means a deal carrying a $20+ million annual average would have to be on the table. Maybe he would take a little less to join Jack and Luke, but even a discount would still leave New Jersey making a massive commitment while already paying Luke and Dougie Hamilton $9 million each.
Then there’s the role issue, and that may be the trickiest part of all. If Quinn arrives in New Jersey, Luke suddenly looks like a very expensive second-pair defenseman who doesn’t play the power play.
Luke’s value comes from his offense, but that’s exactly the area where Quinn might be even more dangerous. If the brothers are both in the same lineup, Luke is the one who could see his opportunity shrink.
Without the family connection, Luke would probably be the kind of return a team would target in a Quinn Hughes trade: younger, talented, and stylistically similar. But if Quinn lands in New Jersey, that path disappears. Luke stays, and his place in the pecking order changes.
That’s why the fit raises a tough question for the Devils. Would Luke be happy if he were pushed to the second power-play unit, assuming he even beats out Hamilton for the first-unit job in camp?
He’d probably say the right things if it happened. Still, it would be fascinating to hear his real thoughts.
And from the front office side, the same concern applies. Any general manager would love to have Quinn Hughes in the lineup.
But would New Jersey really want to pay that much for a player when it already has younger, cheaper options in place? It would make for a great story.
It might also leave Fitzgerald feeling like the Hughes family is calling the shots.
In Other News...
Devils Season Outlook Hinges On One Massive Roster Question
The Devils long-range planning keeps circling back to the same issue: how big a swing they want to take to reshape the roster. Connor Hellebuyck has formally asked for a trade from Winnipeg, while Quinn Hughes still has not signed an extension with Minnesota and has said there is no urgency to do so, which only keeps both names in the conversation for New Jersey as the team weighs its options.
From the Devils perspective, either player would alter the roster in a major way, but in very different spots. Hellebuyck would change the picture in goal, while Hughes would instantly affect the blue line and the way the team builds out from there. For now, though, the question is less about which star fits best and more about whether New Jersey is willing to make the kind of move that would force every other part of its roster puzzle to change with it. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Top Six Debate Centers On Finding The Right Fit For Hughes
The Devils top-six puzzle is less about finding bodies and more about sorting out the right mix around Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. With so many forward options in the group, the conversations have shifted to fit, balance and whether the club can pair Hughes with a winger who can keep up with his pace while still giving Hischier the kind of support that rounds out the second unit.
Luke Evangelista has emerged as one plausible answer on Hughes side, while Anthony Mantha could be the kind of complementary piece who settles in alongside Hischier. Connor Brown is still in the mix for the top line, and names like Evan Rodrigues, Dawson Mercer and Arseny Gritsyuk give New Jersey enough flexibility to imagine several different versions of the top six, with the final shape likely determined by which combinations click best once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Nico Daws Suddenly Holds The Key To The Devils' Crease
The Devils came out of the Jacob Markstrom trade with a goaltending picture that looks sturdy on paper, but far less settled than it did a few weeks ago. New Jersey is preparing to lean on a three-goalie setup with Jake Allen, David Rittich and Nico Daws, a structure that should help spread out the workload over the season while giving the club some flexibility as it sorts through the crease.
For all the planning, this arrangement still seems to hinge on Daws becoming more than just another option in the mix. Allen and Rittich bring experience, but the Devils do not have a clear-cut No. 1, and the whole approach works best if Daws can establish himself as a dependable NHL starter. If he does, New Jersey can make the rotation work. If he does not, the search for stability in goal could quickly become the story of the season. [Read more 🡒]