Could Quinn Hughes leaving Minnesota Wild for New Jersey Devils benefit Colorado Avalanche in NHL

The Vancouver Canucks traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild for Marco Rossi, Liam Öhgren, Zeev Buium and a first-round pick in 2026. Hughes quickly emerged as a big part of Minnesota’s lineup, scoring 53 points in 48 regular-season games and 15 points in 11 playoff games.Hughes has also said he is open to re-signing with Minnesota, while Wild owner Craig Leipold said the organization plans to pursue a long-term deal. But Hughes’ brothers Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes play for the New Jersey Devils, which makes him a natural fit in trade speculation.Could Quinn Hughes’ NHL trade reshape Minnesota Wild’s future?A Quinn Hughes trade could drastically alter the Minnesota Wild’s roster and potentially reshape the Central Division for the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild did not sign Hughes to trade him right away, but his contract situation makes for a possible decision point.Quinn Hughes has a clear personal connection to Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey was considered a possible destination when Vancouver started to explore trade options for Quinn before ultimately sending him to Minnesota, NHL.com also previously reported.If the Wild ever traded a defenseman at Hughes’ level, they’d probably want a big return. Minnesota already traded four major assets to acquire him, so it would be hard to justify another blockbuster unless the return could immediately improve the roster or replenish important future assets.How could Quinn Hughes move affect Colorado Avalanche?If Quinn Hughes leaves the Minnesota Wild and Minnesota loses an elite-level producer against Central Division competition, the Colorado Avalanche could be beneficiaries. But it would also depend on what the Wild get, too.In the 2026 Western Conference Second Round, the Avalanche defeated Minnesota in 5 games. Hughes was important for the Wild in that series, but his overall playoff numbers showed just how little offensive impact he had on Minnesota’s blue line.One of Minnesota’s biggest strengths could be taken away by a trade, but swapping Hughes for a set of top forwards could create a different problem for Colorado.Why Minnesota Wild keeping Quinn Hughes mattersMinnesota could be the cleaner path for Quinn Hughes ultimately, as the organization has already invested a lot into building around him. Hughes has publicly praised the team, city and locker room, while general manager Bill Guerin has said his contract remains a priority.That makes for a weird situation in Colorado. Minnesota might be better off hanging onto Hughes than turning him into a handful of valuable pieces, and a working extension would keep the Wild as they are, but a blockbuster trade could add depth to the roster and make the Wild a tougher Central Division opponent.Now the question becomes whether Minnesota can get a deal done before trade speculation makes a deal more difficult.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.