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Devils Coach Concedes Quinn Hughes Speculation Impacted Room
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- Devils Coach Concedes Quinn Hughes Speculation Impacted Room
Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
The New Jersey Devils were at the centerfold of the Quinn Hughes rumors, and until it came to a head, they struggled to tune it out.
On Friday, the eldest Hughes brother was moved to the Minnesota Wild in a blockbuster trade.
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Multiple reports confirmed the Devils were squarely in the mix for Quinn, who Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Rutherford explained had admitted wants to play with his brothers, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes .
Additional reports explain the Devils, in fact, made at least one offer, but the Canucks went with the Wild, ending the speculation, at least for now.
Ever since last weekend when Elliotte Friedman dropped the report that the Devils and Canucks had been in contact, multiple names began to surface, namely Simon Nemec and Dawson Mercer , as potential trade chips that could go to Vancouver.
Although Sheldon Keefe previously admitted his team tunes that kind of noise out, he admits the room certainly struggled to block out the chatter.
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"When things like this are going on, you do your best to shut it out and try to keep the focus on what's going on," Keefe admitted. "But for those that may be involved. You can't help but think that it's a factor."
Further, Keefe explained he's hoping it eases the tensions for some players on and off the ice.
"I hope that's the case… But, I think you just press on here now and like we've tried to keep the focus on what's going on here, because there's been enough going on here as it is," Keefe concluded. "But hopefully just dies down, and our guys can just focus on what we need to do to get our game in order."
Nemec is a player who improved his stock amid the rumors. His breakout campaign had the Canucks' interest piqued in a potential deal. However, a player like Mercer has just one goal and five points in his last 14 games.
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Thus, the Devils' record has suffered, they've been dispositioned from the playoff picture, and have a 5-9-0 record in that span.
With the Quinn situation sorted, for now, the Devils, at least the ones who are healthy and in the lineup, can just focus on their game moving forward.
That is, until general manager Tom Fitzgerald—who is reportedly working the phone lines to make a trade to help the current roster—inches closer to a deal.
Stay tuned.
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