Quinn Hughes is one of the many marquee players around the NHL whose futures have been a major talking point in recent months.
We all know the situation the Canucks captain is facing, attempting to turn things around in Vancouver with little time left on his contract, and mass speculation about his desire to play with brothers Jack and Luke in New Jersey hanging over everything.
It’s no secret that the Hughes brothers want to play together, and everyone expects that it will come as members of the Devils.
While that remains the most likely scenario, Dave Jenkins of NHL Trade Rumors believes that the Detroit Red Wings are a team to watch out for should Hughes find himself on the move in the next two years.
“For the Detroit Red Wings, this is an opportunity to accelerate their rebuild in a massive way. Imagine a blue line patrolled by both Moritz Seider and Quinn Hughes. That’s a duo that could dominate the Eastern Conference for the next decade. The Red Wings have the young assets and prospects to make a compelling offer, one that the Canucks might not be able to refuse if they find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture come the 2026 NHL trade deadline. The “Hughes brothers” factor, with Jack and Luke in New Jersey, is a narrative, but the real story is a player of Quinn’s caliber wanting to be in a winning situation. If Vancouver can’t provide that, you can be sure Detroit will be first in line to offer him one,” Jenkins wrote.
Is Quinn Hughes on his way to the Motor City? The Canucks are feeling the pressure, and the Red Wings are waiting in the wings.
What would a fair trade for Hughes look like? Share your proposals below!#Canucks #LGRW #NHLTradeRumorshttps://t.co/hJL37cu8T5
— NHL Trade Rumors (@nhltraderumours) September 19, 2025
The 25-year-old has two years left on the six-year, $47.1 million extension he signed with the Canucks back in 2021, which is why questions have been raised about his future with the team.
Detroit has the assets to make a strong offer
While Quinn Hughes could force Vancouver’s hand and only be willing to go to New Jersey, if he’s open to considering other destinations, the Detroit Red Wings are a plausible option.
Hughes could return to the state where he played college hockey (University of Michigan) and help push a team that’s full of young talent, ready to take the next step and get back into the playoff mix. As Jenkins mentioned, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pairing than Hughes-Seider.
From a Canucks perspective, the Red Wings are potentially an enticing option given their strong prospect pool and young NHL talent that could be included in a trade package.
We’re still far away from getting to that point, but all eyes will be on how Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks start the 2025-26 season, that’s for sure.
