Quinn Hughes is the missing piece of the puzzle for the Maple Leafs, and that's exactly why he's out of reach
Photo credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
With Quinn Hughes' name bouncing around in trade rumors, he'd be the missing piece the Maple Leafs need, but that price comes at an insurmountable cost.
It's been reported recently from several sources that the Vancouver Canucks may be trading captain Quinn Hughes this season, with the team failing to play to a level suitable for Hughes, and they may decide to part ways in the hopes of rebuilding.
He's been linked to the New Jersey Devils given that both of his younger brothers play for the team, and the Devils haven't been shy about their desire to unite the trio.
What a Quinn Hughes type actually gives a team on defense
Why wouldn't they want to pursue him? Hughes is one of the best offensive blue liners in the entire league, controlling the offense with lighting quick passes, an underrated shot and an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Over his past four seasons (prior to 2025-26), Hughes has 312 points (48 goals, 264 assists) while adding a plus-65, 249 blocks, and 121 points on the PP (11 goals, 110 assists).
Still only 26 years of age, Hughes is just reaching his prime and there's a genuine chance he manages to break the 100-point mark in his career.
He also is giving you a player you can reliably depend on each night, while eating a ton of minutes (he's averaged 27:23 TOI this season) and doesn't take too many bad penalties.
You're going to have to double team Hughes at times, and that opens up a lot of room for others to sneak in and let Hughes find them open for a scoring chance. That increases even more on the power play, where Hughes can weave in and out of players with ease.
Why the Maple Leafs probably can't get a Quinn Hughes type, and what their Plan B has to be
But there are other teams who could use the star defenseman, including the Toronto Maple Leafs who could see Hughes as the solution to their offensive and defensive struggles.
Though, that's precisely why he's going to be impossible to acquire.
When you talk about what Hughes is going to cost, you have to think that GM Patrik Allvin is going to ask for multiple first-round picks, NHL-ready stars, and young up-and-comers just to even entertain the thought of trading their captain.
If you're the Maple Leafs, you don't have the assets available to acquire Hughes unless you trade your entire future, and a star player on your roster. It's going to start with their first round pick in 2028, plus multiple mid-round picks in earlier years.
Then we go into prospects and players with Easton Cowan and Ben Danford all but assuredly desired. Then you have a player like Matthew Knies; a blossoming power forward on a team-friendly deal and only 23 years old.
He's only got a couple years left on his deal, and no doubt he will creep into that $11-12M per season range on his next contract, and with it up the same time as Auston Matthews; the team would need to make a hard choice.
Is that worth Hughes alone? Sure he would instantly make the backend better, but what of the next few years when he's the only one running the show?
He'll lose two options in Knies and Cowan by proxy of the trade itself, and with only a couple years left on Auston Matthews' contract, there's a possibility he isn't around with Hughes long-term if Toronto decides to stick with the blueliner.
Toronto has gambled with their future in the past, and while bringing in an elite talent like Hughes is certainly a net benefit overall, the cost to bring him aboard puts Toronto's future in serious jeopardy, and have less for Hughes to work with going forward.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 9 | 1160 ANSWERS Quinn Hughes is the missing piece of the puzzle for the Maple Leafs, and that's exactly why he's out of reach Should Toronto pursue Quinn Hughes in a trade? | ||
| Yes | 606 | 52.2 % |
| No | 554 | 47.8 % |
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