New Jersey Devils reportedly pursuing superstar defenseman

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Mike Armenti
August 17, 2023 (9:21)

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During the summer months, we know that news is slow, so some hockey news outlets rely mostly on trade rumours to get through the summer. Those familiar with Hockey Buzz know that the site keeps the rumour mill spinning all year long and this week, they dropped an absolute bombshell regarding the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks.

According to Hockey Buzz this week, the Devils have held "serious discussions" with the Canucks regarding defenseman Quinn Hughes.

As with any rumour, this one should be taken with a grain of salt, as the source of the rumour is unknown. However, there are some undeniable links between the Devils and the Hughes family. Jack and Luke, Quinn's younger brothers, were both drafted by the Devils. Jack has become a star in New Jersey and Luke is expected to be a franchise cornerstone for the organization on the blueline.

Quinn Hughes, 23, skated in 78 games for the Canucks las season, putting up 76 points including 7 goals and 69 assists. If New Jersey is serious about acquiring a Quinn, the cost won't be cheap. Thankfully for the Devils, they have some quality prospects in the pipeline and each of their next 3 first round picks, which means they could undoubtedly put together a competitive trade package for Quinn Hughes if they so desire.

The Canucks' rebuild didn't really go as planned and even after they re-tooled on the fly, the results weren't what they were expecting. They still have some solid, young pieces within the organization, but it also wouldn't be shocking to see them retain a few of their younger core pieces and flip everyone else to try to trigger a fresh, more accelerated rebuild.