After last season’s disaster, trading Quinn Hughes was always a possibility for the Vancouver Canucks.

But here we are, not even at Christmas, and it already feels like that possibility has turned into an inevitability.

The Canucks loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night encapsulated what’s been one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.

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.

And on Friday, Elliotte Friedman’s latest 32 Thoughts column added even more speculation to an impending Hughes trade.

Friedman mentioned eight teams in his column referencing Hughes trade speculation. One team he mentioned as his own brainstorm, the Pittsburgh Penguins, was “pooh-poohed” by his sources.

Excluding the Pens, here were the seven other teams that were mentioned.

1. Detroit Red Wings

There are a few reasons why the Detroit Red Wings are considered front-runners to land Quinn Hughes.

The Canucks captain makes Michigan his home in the offseason. He played his college hockey there, too.

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.

2. New Jersey Devils

As Friedman mentioned, the ties to the New Jersey Devils are rather obvious.

Hughes hasn’t shied away from wanting to play with his brothers. When asked about the trade speculation last weekend, he called Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald by his nickname.

However, if the Canucks truly want a player like Nico Hischier in return, then a trade probably isn’t that close.

3. Washington Capitals

This might be one of the most interesting contenders to acquire Hughes.

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 few teams believe Washington, depending on the price, would consider a two-year stay, because there’d be something very special about another Stanley Cup run while Alexander Ovechkin remains a Capital,” he writes.

There were reports that the Capitals wouldn’t part with top prospect Ryan Leonard in a Hughes trade. However, they do have intriguing prospects such as Cole Hutson and Ivan Miroshnichenko, a possible second-line centre in Connor McMichael, and all of their first-round picks in upcoming drafts.

4. New York Rangers

Friedman acknowledged the New York Rangers in his column, but questioned the fit.

Of course, some factors could allow the Rangers to enter the conversation.

Their aging roster and thin prospect pipeline suggest they should be in win-now mode. They have a general manager who hasn’t been afraid of making bold moves.

J.T. Miller and Hughes certainly had some chemistry together during their time in Vancouver. And, the Rangers would certainly benefit from keeping Hughes away from division rivals such as the Devils and Capitals.

5. Philadelphia Flyers

With no trade protection, Hughes may not have a huge say in where he ends up.

That being said, he clearly had a good relationship with Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet.

Friedman questioned the Flyers’ ability to make a deal due to their lack of centre depth. However, he mentioned that getting a centre in return isn’t a must for the Canucks.

“A deal is not impossible without one, but it will require something special to offset that desire,” he wrote.

6. Carolina Hurricanes

The last two teams were mentioned purely as brainstorms by Friedman, but the Carolina Hurricanes could make sense for a few reasons.

Carolina has won nine playoff series since Rod Brind’Amour took over as head coach in 2018-19, but they’ve yet to appear in the Stanley Cup Finals under his watch.

The Hurricanes showed last year that they aren’t afraid of making bold moves after swinging a deal for Mikko Rantanen. They have the cap space and the assets to pull off a Hughes trade if they wanted to.

7. Utah Mammoth

After running through almost half of the Eastern Conference, Friedman does mention that the West has been ignored. He decided to name-drop one team in his brainstorm of Hughes’ suitors.

“You know who has a lot of picks and prospects? Utah.”

The Utah franchise could reverse its draft mishap by acquiring Hughes, after their predecessor, the Arizona Coyotes, selected Barrett Hayton two picks ahead of the Canucks captain back in 2018.