NHL Notebook: The latest on Quinn Hughes

If Hughes hits the trade block, numerous teams could contend for his services. His two brothers, Jack and Luke, play for the New Jersey Devils. Those three players were born in Michigan, so the Detroit Red Wings could be in play, especially given that they have the assets to pull off a trade. The Philadelphia Flyers could be another team of interest, as they are an up-and-coming team with the assets to pull off a deal.

The Canucks defenceman is entering the penultimate season of his six-year contract and earns $7.85 million a year, a low cap hit for such a talented player.

Ryan McDonagh signs three-year extension

On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that they’ve extended defenceman Ryan McDonagh to a three-year deal worth $4.1 million annually.

McDonagh was drafted 12th overall by the Montréal Canadiens in the 2007 draft, but was traded to the New York Rangers shortly after the 2008-09 season for Scott Gomez. The left-shot defenceman spent parts of his first eight NHL seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Lightning before the 2018 trade deadline alongside J.T. Miller.

He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021 and even attended the Stanley Cup Finals with them in 2022, before being traded to the Nashville Predators. At the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, McDonagh was traded back to the Lightning, where he scored four goals and 31 points in 82 games in his first season back.

Through 15 games this season, the left-shot defenceman has three goals and six points in 15 games. The Lightning currently sit at the top of the Atlantic Division standings thanks to a 16-9-2 record.

Jeff Skinner set to return Friday

On Thursday, NBC Sharks’ beat writer Sheng Peng reported that former Edmonton Oiler Jeff Skinner will return to the San Jose Sharks lineup after missing 10 games.

After an unsuccessful stint with the Oilers in 2024-25, Skinner signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Sharks. He got off to a great start with the rebuilding team, scoring three goals and four points in his first four games. However, Skinner cooled off from there, scoring just a goal and three points over his next 13 games before his injury.

The Sharks are 4-7-0 in that 10-game span, but remain in the playoff hunt. Through 28 games this season, the Sharks are 13-12-3 with 29 points, the same number of points as the Utah Mammoth and Oilers.