The New Jersey Devils have already swung big by landing Connor Hellebuyck, but that doesn’t mean the heavy lifting is done. If they want to chase Quinn Hughes, they’re going to have to put together a package that Minnesota can’t ignore.
That kind of move won’t come cheap. Hughes would bring major value to any blue line, and the Devils would likely need to stack together a serious mix of assets to get the Wild to bite.
Among the pieces New Jersey could dangle are Arseny Gritsyuk, Luke Evangelista, top prospect Anton Silaev, and their best goaltending prospect, Mikhail Yegorov. Each would bring something different to the table, whether it’s NHL experience or long-term upside.
The Devils also still have draft capital to work with. They could include picks from one or more of the next three NHL Drafts, and they hold four first-round picks, including two in 2027 along with additional first-rounders in 2028 and 2029.
Dougie Hamilton is another name that could enter the discussion. He’s not Quinn Hughes, but he would still give a team a top-four defenseman who can help run a power play. The catch is his contract and trade protection, which would complicate any deal because he would need to approve it.
If Hamilton were open to a move to the Minnesota Wild, that would add another layer to the situation. Minnesota is a powerhouse, and it would give him a chance to land with a team carrying real expectations.
There’s also the bigger picture around Hughes himself. If he wants out and has his eye on New Jersey, Wild general manager Bill Guerin may have to focus on getting the best return available instead of waiting for a perfect offer. Minnesota doesn’t have to move him, but if the fear is that he could leave in free agency next summer, taking a meaningful package now would be better than losing him for nothing.
That puts the pressure back on the Devils to make sure their offer fits what Minnesota needs. It can’t just be a package New Jersey likes. Guerin would need young talent and draft picks he can use to keep building.
This isn’t a finalized trade framework, just a look at the pieces New Jersey could use if it decides to push hard. But the message is clear: if the Devils really want Quinn Hughes, they may have to part with a major chunk of their future.
The other path is to wait and try to sign him on the open market. Still, with how well they’ve played this season with a healthy Jack Hughes, the temptation to go get Quinn now is obvious.
In Other News...
Devils Just Handed Riley Tufte A Chance Fans Have Waited On
An injury to Anthony Mantha opened the door for the Devils to make a move on November 9, and Riley Tufte was the one summoned from Utica. The call-up gives New Jersey a look at a big-bodied power forward who has shown he can bring some scoring touch, while also offering the kind of presence the bottom six has been built to absorb in Manthas absence.
Tufte is not arriving as a blank slate, either. He has already appeared in 28 NHL games and has spent much of his time in the AHL as a steady scorer and a leader, which is part of why this promotion matters beyond just filling a temporary roster spot. For a Devils team looking to keep its depth intact, the question now is how quickly Tufte can translate that lower-level production into the role the club has carved out for him. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Send A Clear Lineup Signal Before A Tough Winnipeg Test
With the Devils heading into a difficult matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, the club made a roster move that suggests it wants a little more depth and flexibility up front. New Jersey recalled forward Riley Tufte from its AHL affiliate ahead of the game, a call-up that comes at a time when the team is trying to keep its lineup sharp against a heavy opponent.
The move lands in a stretch where injuries are already forcing other teams to shuffle their rosters, with the Rangers losing defenseman Alberts Smits for several weeks and the Blue Jackets waiting on the timeline for Conor Garlands upper-body injury. For the Devils, the Tufte recall is less about the headlines elsewhere and more about what it says about how they plan to manage a demanding test in Winnipeg, where every available body can matter. [Read more 🡒]
Auston Matthews Sends A Frustrated Message After Devils Loss
The Devils 4-0 win over Toronto did more than add another result to the standings. It pushed the Maple Leafs deeper into an early-season slide, with the loss stretching their skid to three straight and leaving them at 8-9-2 after a stretch in which they have dropped five of six. With injuries already complicating the picture, captain Auston Matthews and head coach Jim Hiller both pointed to the same issue afterward: the group needs more accountability and a better collective effort.
For New Jersey, it was the kind of complete performance that can expose where an opponent is still searching for answers. For Toronto, the concern is less about one bad night than the larger trend, especially with the team already trying to manage absences and keep pace in the standings. Matthews frustration was clear, and the message coming out of the locker room was just as plain, even if the fix is still a moving target. [Read more 🡒]