Quinn Hughes trade rumors: Elliotte Friedman reckons Red Wings are "very legit" suitors to land Canucks star

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has two years remaining on his six-year, $47.1 million contract.

While the Canucks are open to selling their veteran players, Hughes is the one the Canucks are least interested in listening to offers for. However, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Detroit Red Wings are a very legit suitor to land the Canucks captain.

On the Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast, Friedman said:

"Yeah, I know there's been a lot of Rangers rumors. Like, I think this... I think the one thing that's going to be interesting to me is I think it would be East. I think there are a few really good candidates there. But whatever control Vancouver has, it's going to be, "We need a center." So, I always look at these deals and say, "Where does a center come from?" And that's why I think Detroit's very legit."

Quinn Hughes was drafted No. 7 overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL draft. The 26-year-old has been with the team for the past eight seasons, accumulating 431 points through 61 goals and 370 assists in 455 career games.

Hughes has amassed 22 points through two goals and 20 assists in 22 games this season.

NHL analyst believes writing is very much on the wall for Quinn Hughes

NHL analyst Cam Robinson believes the writing is very much on the wall that Quinn Hughes will eventually be traded from Vancouver.

Appearing on the Sekeres and Price podcast, Robinson said he has already mentally prepared himself for Hughes leaving the Canucks, and he thinks most fans should do the same.

"I think obviously nothing is 100% in this world, and I'm not sitting next to Quinn and hearing him talk about his future, but I think that the writing is very much on the wall about where this is going to end up, and I have mentally prepared myself for that, and I think most people probably have to."

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks are seventh in the Pacific Division with a 10-14-3 record. They'll face the Utah Mammoth at Rogers Arena on Friday.