The Colorado Avalanche are going to try and defend their Central Division title in 2026-27 and one of the better players in the division possibly leaving could actually be some bad news. Quinn Hughes was traded during the 2025-26 season from Vancouver to Minnesota, where he played in 48 regular season games for his new team.
While a single player doesn’t necessarily change a team’s outlook or future completely, Hughes is a highly-coveted player who the Wild received for forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. You could argue that the Canucks got the better end of the deal, but that might not be determined for a couple of years—Unless Hughes does, in fact, get moved again.
That’s exactly why Hughes leaving the Central Division could create a problem for Colorado. The cost of Hughes is going to be a lot for the New Jersey Devils, who are the team that Hughes is linked to because his brothers both play for them. The Devils could very well only receive Hughes, while having to give up a ton for him.
I’d imagine the return would be similar to what the Canucks got: Three players and a first-round pick. Similarly, the Devils have two first-round picks in each of the next two first rounds of the NHL Draft—in 2027 and 2028. Maybe the Wild try and go after two of those four picks instead of more players.
Of course, the Wild would have to actually hit on those draft picks to make things bad for the Avalanche. We’ve still got a full season to play before the 2027 Draft and we don’t know how the Devils will be with or without the Wild’s Hughes. Maybe he helps the Devils enough to make the first-round pick that would be going to Minnesota less valuable (later on in the first round). That would be ideal. Still, a first-round pick could easily make a roster, so that might not matter.
A star forward to the Wild could be much worse for the Avalanche
If Minnesota does demand star players in return, that could be even worse. The Devils have someone on their roster that could turn into a trade asset in Jesper Bratt. Bratt is a top-six left wing. Adding him to a top-six with Matt Boldy could be a smart play for Minnesota and unfortunate for the Avalanche.
Adding Bratt would be a good move for the Wild’s top-six because he is a frequent 20-goal scorer and has even passed 30 goals in a season once. Bratt also has 35 power play goals in his career, which would perhaps come in handy for Minnesota.
Bratt is also just 28-years-old, and signed through 2030-31, so he’d likely be with the Wild for a long time.
The move could mean that the Avalanche might have to counter. Could they end up moving someone like Brock Nelson, who is known primarily as a regular season player and struggles in the postseason? I wouldn’t hate that. I would hope that general manager Joe Sakic would be mindful about the return, not only for Nelson, but for any player potentially on the move.
I’ve mentioned in the past I’m not a fan of the Nelson extension and though Martin Necas fits very nicely with Nathan MacKinnon on the top line, he also fits in the category of underwhelming postseason performer.
There’s no question that Quinn Hughes is a star defenseman. But ironically, the Avalanche might be better off if the Wild simply kept him. If Minnesota can turn Hughes into multiple scoring threats, that could make them an even tougher opponent for Colorado in the Central Division.
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