The Daily: Are Devils Getting Quinn Hughes?; The Leonard Lure

The names of Quinn Hughes, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly — players listed on most trade boards — were swirling again over the weekend in connection to possible trades to the New Jersey Devils.

Insider Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the Devils and Canucks have started to talk about a deal that would allow Hughes to join his brother Jack and Luke in New Jersey.

That news is important to Detroit fans because the Red Wings are thought to be interested in Hughes. If Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers, the Devils are clearly the favorites to land him. He  will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027. That means he controls his destiny. It’s unlikely a team will meet the Canucks’ trade demands unless Hughes is open to signing a new deal with that team. The Red Wings’ hope would be that Hughes’ connection to Michigan would prompt him to sign here. But if Hughes says he would only sign with New Jersey, there is nothing other teams can do unless they only want him for this year and next.

New Jersey Hockey Now’s Rink Report discussed the Devils’ looking at Steven Stamkos “and the risks they run acquiring the future Hall of Fame forward.”

The Devils for sure, and maybe the Red Wings, are looking at O’Reilly who has 21 points in 28 games. That seemingly puts him on a path for a 25-goal, 50-some points season. The other plus is that he’s a career 57% faceoff guy.

He’s 33, but O’Reilly only has one season left on a contract paying him a team friendly $4.5 million salary. O’Reilly could work well with Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, working as a bridge until the rest of top prospect land in Detroit. He’s not a long-term option, but he could help the Red Wings earn a playoff spot and mentor younger players.

There are several NHL teams looking at O’Reilly who is being productive performer on a below average hockey team.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Detroit’s scoring depth better with Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk finding the net.

Slava Kozlov hailed for the work he’s doing in the KHL as a coach.

The Red Wings defeat the Seattle Kraken, sitting with three points in the first two games of their six-game road trip.

Red Wings Extra

Grand Rapids Griffins forward John Leonard (17 goals) is on a pace to score 60-plus goals and teammate Eduards Tralmaks (12 goals) is a 41-goal pace. You have to believe the Red Wings are curious to know if this could translate at all to the NHL level.  Tralmaks is 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. Leonard hasn’t stuck with other NHL teams, but his scoring touch is more polished last season and this season.

Another Cat added to the crew 🐱💙

Congrats to the DeBrincat family on the addition of their newest son, Leighton! pic.twitter.com/oiUZtMAzcJ

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 5, 2025

Hockey Now Network

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