Let’s be clear: Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes is one of the best hockey players in the world.

Hughes finished as a finalist for the Norris Trophy after winning it a season ago. Acquiring him would cost a number of top assets — perhaps even more if it was the Devils. But as the Hughes’ future in Vancouver becoming ever-more uncertain, and the team’s admission that he wants to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes, in New Jersey, could Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald try to bring Quinn Hughes over this offseason?

“At some point this summer, and I’m not joking about this because you have to do it to do your due diligence, Tom Fitzgerald makes the Quinn Hughes phone call,” SportsNet insider Elliotte Friedman said on Friday’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “You call and say, ‘Hey guys, what’s going on here. I know what I’ve read. Is there a conversation here?’ It’s malpractice if you don’t make that phone call. I have no doubt Tom Fitzgerald will.”

Vancouver general manager Jim Rutherford began preparing Canucks fans that Quinn Hughes, their captain and franchise player, may not be with the team for much longer. He said in his end-of-season news conference that Quinn Hughes may end up a Devil when his contract expires after 2027.

“It may not boil down to money with him,” Rutherford said. “He has said before he wants to play with his brothers. That would be partly out of our control. In our control would be if we brought his brothers here. … This franchise cannot afford to lose a guy like Quinn Hughes. We will do everything we can to keep him here. At the end of the day, it will be his decision.”

The drama mill began turning more when a few weeks later at a press conference where the team announced they would not bring back coach Rick Tocchet, Rutherford said he had not yet talked with Quinn Hughes.

“I hope he’s playing golf because he usually returns my calls right away, and I called him within half an hour after I talked to Rick,” Rutherford said. “He hasn’t called me back. Knowing how he feels about the coach and that he’s a sensitive guy, I would suspect that he feels like I do. We’re disappointed. But knowing the maturity of Quinn, he will make the adjustment necessary.”

Though Rutherford later said Quinn Hughes was playing golf and that his phone died and the two eventually spoke, he was spotted at a New York Knicks game the same day as the news conference.

“We had a great conversation,” Rutherford said on the 100% Hockey Podcast. He’s a very understanding guy. He did really like Rick. They had a great relationship, and he loved playing for him. But he understands how the sport works, and he’s all for going forward with the changes we’re going to have to make.”

Rutherford said on Friday’s episode of the 100% Hockey Podcast that they wouldn’t move Quinn Hughes unless they were at a point they needed to, such as the trade deadline two seasons from now — a few months before his contract expires.

Still, what if Fitzgerald offers a package Rutherford would take now, knowing he may lose Quinn Hughes for less later?

The centerpiece of the trade would likely revolve around defenseman Simon Nemec. The No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft looked like a bust for some of this season, which he spent most of in the American Hockey League.

Nemec turned it on for the playoffs, and he showcased his full potential in the five game first-round series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime of Game 3. Besides that goal, he left no doubts that he can play at a high level at both ends of the ice.

The Devils would also have to give up top draft capital. They don’t have their first round pick this seasons since they traded it to Calgary for goalie Jacob Markstrom. They have two second rounders this year, and each of their first and second rounders in the next two drafts. Most of those picks would have to be dealt, too.

Defensemen Seamus Casey and Anton Silayev — the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft — may have to be included as top prospects, too.

As for full-time NHL players, the players who make the most sense are forwards Dawson Mercer or Ondrej Palat, and defensemen Jonas Siegenthaler or Brenden Dillon.

Mercer, 23, has had back-to-back down seasons after breaking out in 2022-23, but his potential could still be intriguing for teams. Palat is a veteran who may have to be traded for cap space reasons, and since would be Vancouver rebuilding without Hughes, he can help usher a new-era.

Dillon and Siegenthaler are each left-shot defensemen. Since Quinn Hughes and Luke Hughes are each left-shots, the Devils would have to trade one of Siegenthaler or Dillon to make room for Quinn Hughes.

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Gabriel Trevino can be reached at GTrevino@njadvancemedia.com or on X @GabeCTrevino