Jack Hughes' Comments Ignite Talk of Maple Leafs' Potential Role in a Blockbuster Move
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes was candid in his comments regarding wanting to play with his brother Quinn. Could the Maple Leafs be involved?
There were reports and rumors this offseason that the New Jersey Devils are seriously considering trying to find a way to get Quinn Hughes from Vancouver in order to play with his brothers Luke and Jack.
It would be quite the expensive coup for the Devils to bring him in but he would no doubt change the trajectory of not only their team but the entire Metropolitan Division.
But it's not going to stop not only the Devils from holding out hope something will happen, but Quinn's brother Jack is hoping for something as well.
Jack Hughes Opens Door With Surprising Quinn Comments
Speaking to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Hughes was not only excited about his brother Luke sticking around long-term, but was very candid in his thoughts about one day playing with Quinn:
Honestly, I'm not afraid to say it. Yeah, I would love for Quinn to - eventually I'd love to play with him. And whether that's in New Jersey or at what time that takes, at some point I want to play with Quinn.
But, yeah, that's the question going around. They talk all day about it up in Vancouver, you know? But, yeah, I'd love to play with Quinn at some point.
But, yeah, that's the question going around. They talk all day about it up in Vancouver, you know? But, yeah, I'd love to play with Quinn at some point.
He's not wrong, considering that Canucks team president Jim Rutherford let the cat out of the bag earlier this season that losing Hughes was a potential future outcome:
The one thing that we will be sure of is that we will have enough cap space to offer him the kind of contract that he deserves.
That's the one thing we can prepare for. And it may not boil down to money with him. You know, he said before he wants to play with his brothers, and that would be partly out of our control (but) in our control if we brought his brothers here.
So there's many moving parts here. Agree 100 per cent that this franchise cannot afford to lose a guy like Quinn Hughes, and we will do everything we can to keep him here.
That's the one thing we can prepare for. And it may not boil down to money with him. You know, he said before he wants to play with his brothers, and that would be partly out of our control (but) in our control if we brought his brothers here.
So there's many moving parts here. Agree 100 per cent that this franchise cannot afford to lose a guy like Quinn Hughes, and we will do everything we can to keep him here.
What Quinn Hughes' Future Could Mean for Dougie Hamilton
In order to get a trade done however it's going to take a lot of moving pieces but more than anything it's going to facilitate the Devils moving on from Dougie Hamilton.
Nothing against the towering two-way defender but Hughes is a special type of player and is not only going to command a huge deal, but a ton of ice-time.
That means either the Devils are going to need to find a way to afford both players (Combined they make $16.85-million) or find a way to dish off Hamilton somehow, and make sure they get a good enough return.
Plus with Hughes being the elephant in the room in Vancouver now that the Elias Pettersson/JT Miller drama is over, if they can't figure out their game plan this season and struggle; it's going to be hard to convince Hughes to stay.
How Jack's Remarks Strengthen Dougie Hamilton-to-Leafs Buzz
So if the team needs to get rid of Hamilton in order to bring in Hughes, then the Toronto Maple Leafs can certainly get in on the action.
Take for instance, their need to improve on their back end and add a better offensive presence who is still defensively capable and can fit in a Craig Berube system.
Hamilton fits that bill to a tee, and with Vancouver needing an offensive defenseman to replace Hughes; who better than BC's own Morgan Rielly?
We touched on a potential three-team swap that would see Hughes in New Jersey, Rielly in Vancouver and Hamilton in Toronto, a move that would benefit all three parties, though it's not going to be a strict one for one for one.
But knowing how badly he and his brother Luke want to play with Quinn, and knowing that GM Tom Fitzgerald is more than willing to make a splash; we could very well see the elder Hughes in black and red.
That also means we might end up seeing Dougie Hamilton in blue and white, which looking at the grand scheme of things isn't a bad consolation prize.
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