The NHL rumor mill has been churning this weekend, with several significant storylines developing around the league. Here's a breakdown of the latest buzz surrounding the New Jersey Devils, Quinn Hughes, and the Edmonton Oilers:
Devils' Cap Crunch
The New Jersey Devils were reportedly in the mix for Quinn Hughes, but their efforts were ultimately thwarted by their challenging salary cap situation. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Devils simply couldn't clear the necessary cap space to accommodate Hughes' contract. This limitation has raised questions about General Manager Tom Fitzgerald's previous roster decisions and his ability to improve the team moving forward.
Friedman noted that the Devils are actively exploring alternative routes to free up cap space, as potential trade partners are unwilling to take on salary. This has forced the Devils to consider "dollar-in-dollar-out" trades, where they must shed salary to make any additions. The presence of no-trade and no-movement clauses for players like Ondrej Palat, Dougie Hamilton, and Jacob Markstrom further complicates the situation.
With the Devils struggling to make headway, questions are arising about Fitzgerald's future if he can't find a way to bolster the roster. Coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged that the trade speculation surrounding Quinn Hughes has been a distraction for the players.
Despite their cap constraints, the Devils are reportedly still working the phones in search of a trade to improve the team. Peter Baugh of The Athletic suggests that the Devils' biggest need is forward depth, and Fitzgerald has inquired about Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly. However, rebuilding teams like the Predators are setting high asking prices, leaving Fitzgerald to decide whether to overpay or wait for prices to drop.
Quinn Hughes Trade Aftermath
The Quinn Hughes trade to the Minnesota Wild continues to dominate headlines, with more details emerging about the circumstances that led to the deal. According to Elliotte Friedman, Hughes informed the Vancouver Canucks around American Thanksgiving that he would not be signing a contract extension next summer. This revelation deterred several potential suitors who were unwilling to risk acquiring Hughes without a long-term commitment.
Ultimately, the Minnesota Wild's aggressive approach and substantial offer, including a 1st round pick in the 2026 NHL draft, Marco Rossi, Liam Öhgren and Zeev Buium, proved too compelling for the Canucks to pass up. Canucks President Jim Rutherford stated that "nobody else came close" to the Wild's offer.
While the New Jersey Devils were reportedly among the most serious contenders for Hughes outside of Minnesota, they were unable to overcome their cap limitations. Other teams that reportedly made legitimate offers for Hughes included the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers, while the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes also expressed interest.
Wild GM Bill Guerin indicated that the club views itself as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender within that period with the acquisition of Hughes, who has less than two years of team control remaining.
Oilers' Trade Pressure
The Edmonton Oilers finally made a significant move to address their goaltending issues, trading Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry and Samuel Poulin. The trade was driven by the Oilers' desire for a change in net, rather than a reflection of Skinner's performance.
Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman stated that it was "maybe time for something different" and that the team felt confident in Jarry's abilities. Bowman had been facing increasing pressure to make a move to maximize the championship window with Connor McDavid.
While the trade addresses the Oilers' goaltending concerns, it was an emotional decision, as Skinner had been with the team for parts of six seasons and helped them reach the Stanley Cup Finals twice. Connor McDavid acknowledged the difficulty of the trade, noting that the team would miss Skinner and Kulak.
