A 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 9, and the Carolina Hurricanes look poised this season. The team is second to the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division and is soon set to meet the Caps for a showdown at Capital One Arena, hungry for redemption.
The Canes already have an enviable defensive setup, but what are the odds that they try to bolster it further? Adding fuel to the trade rumors that have already been running amok, an insider has linked the Hurricanes to a much sought-after blueliner.
The Carolina Hurricanes are a Potential Suitor for Vancouver Canucks Star, Quinn Hughes
Injury woes came for top Hurricanes blueliners like K’Andre Miller and Jaccob Slavin, and yet, the team put up an impressive show against all odds. “The Canes’ emphasis on aggressive puck possession is the foundation of their defensive success: Opponents simply do not get the puck enough to generate many quality chances,” highlighted a DirecTV Insider article, emphasizing the team’s defensive prowess.
Adding Hughes to the Canes roster will only make things better. The Vancouver Canucks captain may just want to play for a more competitive team. Hughes has most aggressively been linked to the New Jersey Devils, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Detroit Red Wings.
However, it now appears that more teams are contacting the Vancouver front office with interest in the blueliner’s whereabouts. The Hurricanes, the Washington Capitals, and the New York Rangers are among the other franchises that could participate in the Hughes sweepstakes.
“‘We’ll continue to hear more teams, I’m sure, as this progresses, but the latest two that I have are the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals,’” David Pagnotta shared during a recent edition of the DFO Rundown Insiders Edition.
Of course, when the Canucks considered moving some of their veterans, it was not Hughes who the management had in mind, but as Chris Pronger pointed out recently, if a trade has to happen at all, now is the ideal time to go ahead with it.
Read More: Hall of Fame D-Man Wants ‘Inept’ Vancouver Canucks To Pull The Trigger on Quinn Hughes Trade
If Vancouver were to move the team’s foremost player, it is safe to say that the team would demand a hefty return. “Gaffar added the Canucks are going to try to maximize their return if they do end up dealing Hughes and noted Canucks President Jim Rutherford will want to secure the highest return, no matter the team,” a Fourth Period article reported.
The Canes are one team that is not afraid to make a move to acquire big players. Financially, too, the Hurricanes can be said to be in a better position vis-à-vis many other franchises, further strengthening any speculation that links Hughes to the Hurricanes.