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Elliotte Friedman offers insight into a failed Red Wings/Canucks trade for Quinn Hughes


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Julien Trekker
December 15, 2025  (12:49)
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Dec 14, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild defensemen Quinn Hughes (43) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period at Grand Casino Arena.
Photo credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

The NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed the reason why the Detroit Red Wings were out of the Quinn Hughes derby quite early in the discussions.

Not a lot of people had Quinn Hughes being traded to the Minnesota Wild on their bingo card this year.
After a lot of rumors in the past months, the biggest takeaway when we entered the current season was that Hughes' alleged desire to leave the team was false, according to Elliotte Friedman.
In recent weeks, trade rumors have been going crazy, involving both the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings.
Friedman revealed exactly why the Wings weren't able to land him.

Friedman Reveals Why The Red Wings Couldn't Get Quinn Hughes

Per NHL Trade Rumors, the 32 Thoughts co-host revealed on his podcast that no one expected him to get traded this quickly and that Hughes finally told his organization that he wouldn't re-sign around U.S. Thanksgiving:
"Elliotte says no one expected a trade to happen this quickly. He heard over the summer Hughes said he wouldn't re-sign but was told that's not true. He was also told Hughes never asked for a trade. Hughes told VAN around U.S. Thanksgiving he wouldn't re-sign. Elliotte said with everything happening it was just time."

Friedman also suggested that the Red Wings didn't get very far in the discussions, as he believes the Canucks were after someone Detroit wasn't willing to part ways with, who is likely Simon Edvinsson:
"Elliotte says DET didn't get far on the Hughes trade talk as he heard there was something VAN wanted but DET wouldn't include, wonders if it was Simon Edvinsson."
At the end of the day, the Wings couldn't get Hughes, but the team still has better depth than the Wild and the Canucks.
Paying such a price for a season and a half is a risk, one that Yzerman obviously wasn't willing to take.
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Elliotte Friedman offers insight into a failed Red Wings/Canucks trade for Quinn Hughes

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