After last season\u2019s disaster, trading Quinn Hughes was always a possibility for the Vancouver Canucks.<\/p>\n
But here we are, not even at Christmas, and it already feels like that possibility has turned into an inevitability.<\/p>\n
The Canucks loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night encapsulated what\u2019s been one of the most disappointing seasons<\/a> in franchise history.<\/p>\n Vancouver became the first team in over eight months to let the Sabres win a road game in regulation. The loss left them three points back of 31st overall in the NHL. A jersey was thrown on the ice in protest<\/a>.<\/p>\n And on Friday, Elliotte Friedman\u2019s latest 32 Thoughts column<\/a> added even more speculation to an impending Hughes trade.<\/p>\n Friedman mentioned eight teams in his column referencing Hughes trade speculation. One team he mentioned as his own brainstorm, the Pittsburgh Penguins, was \u201cpooh-poohed\u201d by his sources.<\/p>\n Excluding the Pens, here were the seven other teams that were mentioned.<\/p>\n 1. Detroit Red Wings<\/p>\n There are a few reasons why the Detroit Red Wings are considered front-runners to land Quinn Hughes<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Canucks captain makes Michigan his home in the offseason. He played his college hockey there, too.<\/p>\n Steven Yzerman and the Wings should be desperate to make the playoffs after a nine-year drought. Plus, they have the assets to pull a deal like this off.<\/p>\n 2. New Jersey Devils<\/p>\n As Friedman mentioned, the ties to the New Jersey Devils are rather obvious.<\/p>\n Hughes hasn\u2019t shied away from wanting to play with his brothers<\/a>. When asked about the trade speculation last weekend, he called Devils\u2019 GM Tom Fitzgerald by his nickname.<\/p>\n However, if the Canucks truly want a player like Nico Hischier in return<\/a>, then a trade probably isn\u2019t that close.<\/p>\n 3. Washington Capitals<\/p>\n This might be one of the most interesting contenders to acquire Hughes.<\/p>\n While most teams likely want a shot at signing Hughes long-term, Friedman reports that the Capitals could view him as a rental. Other reporters in the market have verified this<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cA few teams believe Washington, depending on the price, would consider a two-year stay, because there\u2019d be something very special about another Stanley Cup run while Alexander Ovechkin remains a Capital,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n