Quinn Hughes is heading to the Devils and Dougie Hamilton is the Maple Leafs blue line answer
Photo credit: Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images
Quinn Hughes may once again be on the move, and some think he could join his brothers in New Jersey, opening up Toronto to once again go after Dougie Hamilton.
Rumors haven't ceased about the future of Quinn Hughes despite the 26-year-old having been dealt earlier this season from the Vancouver Canucks to the Minnesota Wild.
The defenseman has continued to be looked at as someone who may not stay long-term in Minnesota, having just a year left on his remaining contract.
Hockey Patrol's social media thinks that it's inevitable that Hughes ends up in New Jersey as a member of the Devils, joining brothers Jack and Luke.
Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers in New Jersey and the Devils know they need to clear major cap space before he arrives
Quinn Hughes has said that he would love to play with his brothers, and with his contract expiring, that reality could potentially soon happen.
Hughes had 53 points in 48 games since being acquired by Minnesota from Vancouver, having just been swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche.
Hamilton's agent J.P. Barry publicly accused New Jersey of using the healthy scratch as business pressure and con firmed Hamilton would consider teams beyond his 10-team trade list.
Frank Seravalli specifically named the Maple Leafs as a natural fit on Frankly Hockey. The exit door was already opening before Quinn Hughes became the urgent reason to push him through.
Under new GM Sunny Mehta, the Devils biggest opportunity could be bringing Hughes into the organization along with the other two brothers, but it won't be easy if Minnesota can prove they can get over the hump and be cup contenders.
Having locked up star winger Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota has shown it's committed to contending, which could limit any interest Hughes has in playing with his brothers for the chance to win on his own.
For Mehta, if things manage to go his way and can bring Quinn Hughes on, the team's defense would have to make some changes to accommodate him into the lineup.
Dougie Hamilton is the perfect fit for the Maple Leafs and the January healthy scratch drama proved his time in New Jersey was already ending
One name the Toronto Maple Leafs could look at from New Jersey is Dougie Hamilton, restarting a hunt for the defenseman from this past season.
Hamilton, 32, was seen as a low-cost option for teams like Toronto after being a healthy scratch for the Leafs, but went off the table as Hamilton began to return to his peak form, which had the Devils deciding to keep the defenseman.
Hughes and Hamilton play on different sides of the ice, but signed to $9M annually, Hamilton is the type of high-priced contract that could be moved out to bring Quinn Hughes in.
The Toronto Maple Leafs would have to pay a lot more now for Dougie Hamilton than they would have had to when they were first inquiring on the defender, but with a need for a top-pair RHD, the Leafs may have to go all in for a much needed impact defenseman.
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