New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec responds after being named in Quinn Hughes trade rumours
Photo credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
New Jersey Devils defenseman and 2022 second overall pick Simon Nemec has reacted to his name being mentioned in Quinn Hughes trade rumors recently.
For several months now, Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has been linked to the New Jersey Devils, either via trade or in free agency in the summer of 2027, with it looking like his time in the Lower Mainland will be coming to a close at some point in the near future.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman gave an update on the weekend regarding New Jersey's interest in Quinn Hughes and said that the Devils & Canucks have spoken, but he doesn't believe anything is imminent or if the two clubs are continuing to talk.
"Once Vancouver announced they were open for business, sent that email around to the league, I do believe there was a conversation, at least one, between the New Jersey Devils and Canucks about Quinn Hughes and I stress, I do not believe there is anything imminent, I don't even know that they're anywhere far along. But I do believe that conversation was had about where things stand and where they might be going." Friedman said.
Simon Nemec reacts to his name being mentioned in Quinn Hughes trade rumors
If the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks were to hypothetically complete a trade involving Quinn Hughes, either before the March 6th deadline or in the summer, there's no question that 2022 second overall pick Simon Nemec, who spoke recently about his name being in those rumors, would have to be involved.
"I mean it's part of being a hockey player. Something could always happen. I'm trying not to think about it. I don't know if it's true or something. I'm just trying to play hockey and I will see how everything turns out." Nemec said to Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com.
Nemec, a native of Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia, would instantly step into a top-four role with the Vancouver Canucks and would help form the next core on the blueline with Elias Pettersson, Tom Willander and Victor Mancini.
The 21-year-old has already set a new career-high in goals this season and is on pace to smash his previous high in points (19), with 16 in 29 games thus far with the Devils during the 2025-26 campaign.
Nemec is set to become a restricted free agent next summer and understandably, is in for a big pay day and with the Canucks projected by PuckPedia to have a tad over $18.2 million in available cap space for the 2026-27 season, Patrik Allvin can more than afford to dole out upwards of $6-7 million annually for the Slovakian blueliner.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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DECEMBRE 9 | 1007 ANSWERS New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec responds after being named in Quinn Hughes trade rumours Do you think Simon Nemec should be Patrik Allvin's top target in trade talks with the New Jersey Devils? | ||
| Yes | 678 | 67.3 % |
| No | 329 | 32.7 % |
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