Elliotte Friedman reveals the player Vancouver wanted from Detroit that stalled a Quinn Hughes trade
Photo credit: Edit from Yahoo Sports
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Canucks were likely interested in Simon Edvinsson, but Detroit would not let him go in exchange for Quinn Hughes.
The Detroit Red Wings held firm during trade talks with the Vancouver Canucks involving Quinn Hughes. The star defenseman had been linked to several teams in recent weeks, with Detroit widely viewed as a strong contender.
Those discussions ultimately stalled, and Vancouver moved Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in a blockbuster deal. Once the trade was completed, it became clear the Red Wings had made a serious push.
The player Elliotte Friedman believes the Canucks wanted that Detroit would not give up
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman later shed light on why Detroit came up short, suggesting the Red Wings were likely unwilling to include Simon Edvinsson in the deal.
"I think there was always a match there if [Detroit and Vancouver] wanted to do it," said Friedman. "You know, it takes two to tango. But you look up and down Detroit's roster and you say, 'they could do this.' I heard that they really didn't get far because there was something Vancouver wanted from Detroit that the Red Wings would not include."
"And I don't know this, but I have wondered if that was Edvinsson. And so I don't think it ever got as close as I thought it could. My suspicion is Edvinsson, I just don't know that."
- Elliotte Friedman
"And I don't know this, but I have wondered if that was Edvinsson. And so I don't think it ever got as close as I thought it could. My suspicion is Edvinsson, I just don't know that."
- Elliotte Friedman
Edvinsson has become a major part of Detroit's blue line since being selected sixth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-6 defenseman regularly plays alongside Moritz Seider and has earned the trust of head coach Todd McLellan.
Why Simon Edvinsson is so valuable to Detroit
Through 30 games this season, Edvinsson has recorded 10 points while averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time, underlining his value to the organization.
Vancouver was looking for a combination of a legitimate center and a left-shot defenseman. Detroit's center depth made them a natural fit, but moving Edvinsson appeared to be a line they would not cross.
With talks stalling, the Canucks pivoted and sent Hughes to Minnesota in exchange for Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick. Buium, another highly regarded young defenseman, was a key piece in the return.
Minnesota took on considerable risk acquiring Hughes without an extension, as his contract runs through the summer of 2027.
Even so, Detroit remains in a strong position. The Red Wings sit second in the Atlantic Division, have kept their core young players intact, and still have flexibility to address other roster needs.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 16 | 180 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman reveals the player Vancouver wanted from Detroit that stalled a Quinn Hughes trade Would you have liked to have Simon Edvinsson in exchange for Quinn Hughes? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 24.4 % |
| No | 136 | 75.6 % |
| List of polls | ||