Canucks nearly landed top young Hurricanes defenseman in Quinn Hughes talks, per Elliotte Friedman
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Hurricanes nearly traded Alexander Nikishin to the Canucks for Quinn Hughes until the Wild stepped in.
Amid all the buzz around the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and others, one team stood out as a serious contender in the Quinn Hughes sweepstakes: the Carolina Hurricanes.
Why it is never a surprise that the Hurricanes are always involved in trade rumors surrounding big names
Insider Elliotte Friedman notes that the Canes came genuinely close. This isn't surprising. Carolina has a history of swinging big for star talent, with moves like Mikko Rantanen last season and Jake Guentzel the year before.
Neither resulted in a long-term fit, but the Hurricanes never shy away from trying.
Circumstances even allowed for a potential face-to-face meeting recently, when Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford visited Raleigh during the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup 20th anniversary celebrations.
Carolina's roster depth, including top prospects like Alexander Nikishin, made them an intriguing option, and that is exactly the player they offered to Vancouver.
"There was something in [the Hurricanes'] offer the Canucks liked (I assume 23-year-old defender Alexander Nikishin was involved), because a few sources indicated Vancouver looked hard at it. I don't know if we'll ever find out for sure, but a couple other teams thought the Hurricanes were the frontrunners until Minnesota showed up."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
Why the Canucks declined to make a deal with Carolina
But ultimately, the Canes couldn't offer a center ready to slot directly into Vancouver's lineup, a key factor that likely kept the deal from happening.
Still, the pursuit underscores Carolina's reputation: when a big-name star hits the market, the Hurricanes are almost always in the mix. Unfortunately for Carolina, the Wild came in with a better offer, and Vancouver ultimately chose that path.
Previously on HockeyLatest
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DECEMBRE 20 | 134 ANSWERS Canucks nearly landed top young Hurricanes defenseman in Quinn Hughes talks, per Elliotte Friedman Should the Canucks have made the deal with the Hurricanes instead? | ||
| Yes | 51 | 38.1 % |
| No | 83 | 61.9 % |
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