In yesterday’s iteration of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claims that defenseman Quinn Hughes wanted to go to the Detroit Red Wings when the Vancouver Canucks were entertaining trade offers. However, Friedman indicated that General Manager Steve Yzerman was unwilling to pay the lofty price if an extension wasn’t guaranteed.
Hughes was eventually traded to the Minnesota Wild for Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick. Detroit was known to be one of the speculative suitors at the time. However, many pundits believed that defenseman Simon Edvinsson was the major sticking point in negotiations, as being a player the Red Wings were unwilling to part with. Yesterday’s report from Friedman certainly alters that narrative.
Additionally, given that he’s not scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency until after the 2026-27 season, Hughes isn’t eligible to sign an extension until July 1st, 2026. Friedman’s report indicates that Yzerman was hoping for a verbal commitment from Hughes and his agent, Pat Brisson, that the former Norris Trophy winner would sign a long-term contract with Detroit. Although Hughes can’t sign an extension until the upcoming summer, he’s able to begin negotiating one whenever he pleases.
While it ultimately didn’t work out with Detroit on the trade front, they will certainly be a team to look out for if Hughes reaches free agency in 2027. However, that’s a big if.
There’s no doubting the connection. Hughes played for four years in southeast Michigan with the United States National Team Development Program before attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for two years. Still, he’s had a seamless transition to the Wild organization, scoring one goal and 16 points in 15 games while averaging nearly 28 minutes of ice time per game.
It appears that the lack of extension could be a major sticking point for Yzerman leading up to the trade deadline. In the same episode on Monday, Friedman discussed the recent speculation connecting the Red Wings to Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, noting that Detroit would likely avoid him if he is not willing to commit long-term.
Regardless, it’ll be a breath of fresh air to a Red Wings fan base that has been starving for a big-time addition by Yzerman, particularly on defense. The team is on pace to get over the playoff hurdle, sitting in first place in the highly competitive Atlantic Division with a 28-15-4 record. However, it’s important to remember that Detroit has played the most games of any team in the division.
The Red Wings should be comfortable with their top pairing. The combination of Edvinsson and Moritz Seider is one of the league’s best at even strength, averaging a 55.2% xGoals%. However, there’s a stark drop-off in performance from the second pairing. Veteran Ben Chiarot and rookie Axel Sandin Pellikka have combined for a 45.8% mark, which ranks 81st out of the 99 defensive pairings that have played in 200 or more minutes together.
If Detroit can remain healthy after the Olympic break, all rumors suggest a significant addition to their defense. However, regarding the rental market, the quality of potential trade candidates is thin. Given the desire to stay away from a player who isn’t willing to stay with the team long-term, the Red Wings could look to the market for defensemen signed beyond this season.
Friedman has NO credibility.
Says a likely red wings fan
Hughes said in an Interview before that he was Hoping that Kane would get the Hawks to draft him, ultimately the Blackhawks got Adam Boqvist the pick after Hughes. I believe the Hughes connection to Detroit does kinda center around both his Hometown (obviously) but also Kane
It sounds like Edvinsson was at the center of that “lofty price”, as Elliotte stated. So, it doesn’t really alter what he said, just expands on it. If GMBG can’t extend Hughes, MIN fans should be really pissed, for paying that price for a rental, unless they have some pieces in the cupboard to reacquire those guys from VAN. Could end up being one of the dumbest transactions in years, if it pans out that way.
@Mac – I’m leaning towards dumbest transaction in years view. And they’re not beating the Avs or Stars even with Quinn.
I’m confused here. If Quinn wanted to go to Detroit, why would there be an issue with negotiating an extension? And if not willing to part with Edvinsson was the sticking point, then the extension talk is mute.
Xlent
@Gbear — Surely it wouldn’t be due to Stevie possibly having a hard-and-fast cap structure, would it? If Hughes said or hinted at something that would’ve upset the Wings’ cap setup, it could be seen as a turn-off, I suppose. Or, did VAN say, it’s Edvinsson or nothing?
The important part in all this is that Hughes didn’t want to commit to Detroit after 2027, much less to Minny. He is therefore a rental.
Even as a rental, he holds a significant value to a team whose Cup window is wide open this and next year. If Kaprizov / Boldy get injured before the upcoming TD, Guerin could try to recoup what he’s given up by trading Hughes to, for example, Carolina. He can also do that if his goalies start to falter and Guerin loses confidence in making a strong Cup run himself this year.
Carolina gave up a hefty package for Rantanen. It may well give Minny more than Guerin spent to acquire Hughes.
Please remember that Elliotte talks for a living.