Flyers Trade Talk: Team Named Potential Landing Spot for Superstar Defenseman

Quinn Hughes has been the center of trade rumors for quite some time, and the Philadelphia Flyers may be more of a realistic destination than many people think.

Elliotte Friedman reported that the Vancouver Canucks are listening to trade offers for their veteran players. While for the moment, that does not include Quinn Hughes, that does not mean a trade for the superstar defenseman is out of the picture.

Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal suggests that if Hughes is unwilling to commit to a future with Vancouver, then a trade this season could make a ton of sense. That conversation is expected to come soon. If it does not go well for the Canucks, trade talk could grow louder.

The New Jersey Devils have long been the front-runner for Hughes if he were to be traded. It’s expected that Hughes has a mutual interest in Jersey. He would get the opportunity to play with his younger brothers, Jack and Luke.

However, it won’t be just the Devils lining up to acquire the star. If made available at the deadline, plenty of teams will be lining up to pay a premium for just a year and a half of Hughes’ services.

Frank Seravalli says the Flyers are a team to watch if and when Hughes hits the market.

Read More: Flyers Faced with Tough Choice Regarding Promising Prospect

What would a Flyers trade package for Hughes look like?

Let’s start by saying this. Whether he commits long-term or not, trading for Quinn Hughes will be costly. We’re talking NHL players, prospects, and picks. It will not be cheap. Could the Flyers put together an enticing trade package for the star defender?

If the Flyers attempt to trade for Hughes, in my mind, there should be two untouchables: Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone. My best guess is that when Canucks GM Patrik Allvin picks up the phone, one of those two players will be the starting point.

Flyers GM Danny Briere will likely try to avoid dealing one of those two. It certainly is possible. However, the rest of the package would have to make up for the lack of Martone or Michkov.

So, let’s start with a guarantee. There will at least be one first-round pick involved, if not two. Specifically for the Flyers, one of their top center prospects, Jett Luchanko or Jack Nesbitt, will also likely be included.

The Canucks will want a defenseman, likely an NHL-level player, who can step in for Hughes. Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae tend to make the most sense here.

If the Flyers were to try to trade for Hughes, they would need to find a way to set their offer apart from the others. They can do that with the inclusion of a scoring winger, something Philly has a surplus of. Whether that be a veteran or a younger player with promise, the Flyers have it on the wing.

A package of top picks, a top prospect, an NHL defenseman, and a winger could be enough to get Hughes out of Vancouver. Would you make the trade?

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