Elliotte Friedman reveals the real reason Detroit's Quinn Hughes pursuit fell apart
Photo credit: Edit from The Hockey News
The Red Wings were somewhat involved in the Quinn Hughes sweepstakes, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed they played it way too conservatively.
The Minnesota Wild surprised everyone by landing Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks, but the Detroit Red Wings were once considered serious contenders.
The hesitancy to include Simon Edvinsson in the deal wasn't the only reason the deal fell apart
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman explained why Detroit never got close: he's now convinced the Red Wings played it conservatively, unwilling to commit long-term.
That, more than parting with Simon Edvinsson, is why their pursuit never really left the driveway.
Re Quinn Hughes: "I'm now convinced Detroit played it conservatively, unwilling...without some kind of long-term commitment. That, more than parting with Simon Edvinsson, is why their pursuit never really left the driveway."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
Detroit's reluctance to include Edvinsson in trade talks limited its leverage. According to reports from Nestor Quixtan of Octopus Thrower, negotiations never gained real momentum.
"In light of what the Wild gave up to land Hughes, it makes sense that the Red Wings ultimately passed. There wasn't any point in making this deal happen now. And, frankly, the Red Wings aren't in the desperate situation the Wild are."
- Nestor Quixtan
- Nestor Quixtan
While rumors painted the Red Wings as front-runners, the reality was that discussions stalled early.
Why re-signing Quinn Hughes would have been difficult for Detroit
Adding to the challenge, re-signing Hughes in Detroit would have been difficult. Despite early-season success and sitting atop the Atlantic Division, Detroit's playoff positioning remains fragile in a tightly packed conference.
Meanwhile, the Wild are clear Stanley Cup contenders, already boasting a strong roster, and Hughes now makes them even more dangerous. Minnesota is also a more likely landing spot for Hughes to sign long-term.
From Detroit's perspective, missing out might not be a disaster. If Hughes doesn't re-sign in Minnesota, or if the Wild fails to win a Cup during his first two years, it could be seen as a failed trade.
Meanwhile, Detroit retains its top prospects and can watch from the sidelines as Hughes shapes the playoff race elsewhere.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 21 | 75 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman reveals the real reason Detroit's Quinn Hughes pursuit fell apart Would you have wanted the Canucks to acquire Simon Edvinsson? | ||
| Yes | 21 | 28 % |
| No | 54 | 72 % |
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