Elliotte Friedman leaks the team Quinn Hughes wanted to be traded to
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Daniel Lucente
Jan 13, 2026 (12:02)
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Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that Quinn Hughes had one specific team he wanted to go to, and surprisingly, it wasn't the Devils, but rather the Red Wings.
In the recent edition of '32 Thoughts,' Friedman revealed that one of the things that Quinn Hughes was looking for was a trade to the Motor City. The Canucks were looking around to see what they could get for him.
Steve Yzerman wasn't ready to pay the price the Red Wings were looking for unless he could promise a long-term deal.
Hughes eventually relocated to Minnesota, and in return, the Canucks got Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, as well as a first-round draft choice in 2026.
The player the Canucks were going to get if they struck a deal with Detroit
Detroit's Simon Edvinsson was projected to be the player going to Vancouver if a deal was struck there. Friedman's report is now clear that the failed Detroit trade had to do with a lack of an extension.
Hughes won't be able to ink a new deal until July 1, 2026, although he can negotiate with his agent, Patrick Brisson, sooner.
Since arriving in the Minnesota area, Hughes has adjusted quickly, chipping in a goal and 16 points in his first 15 games, averaging nearly 28 minutes a night.
Why Detroit is a place that Qunn Hughes enjoys
He has a significant connection to the Detroit area, having spent four years with the U.S. National Team Development Program and two years at the University of Michigan.
Detroit remains first in the Atlantic Division at 28-15-4 but has concerns beyond its top pairing of Edvinsson and Moritz Seider, which is among the league's best at even strength.
However, their second defensive pairing of Ben Chiarot and Axel Sandin Pellikka has not meshed well; it is the 81st-best pairing out of 99 pairs playing together in excess of 200 minutes combined.
Before the Olympic break comes, Detroit might try to get a defenseman who is signed beyond this year, although the pool of players who could be had isn't deep.
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JANVIER 13 | 134 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman leaks the team Quinn Hughes wanted to be traded to Are you surprised Detroit was the team that Quinn Hughes wanted? | ||
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