Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick confirmed Friday that the team had interest in recently traded superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes.
Hughes was ultimately dealt from the Vancouver Canucks to the Minnesota Wild on December 12, netting the Canucks top young defender Zeev Buium, center Marco Rossi, prospect Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick.
While the Wild were willing to part with Buium, the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Capitals were not willing to do the same with their top defense prospect, Cole Hutson, which, according to Patrick, ended any of the talks.
“I mean, we checked in for sure,” Patrick said. “I really like Cole Hutson, and I want to see what he can do in a Washington Capitals sweater. So that wasn’t a piece that I was willing to move in that kind of trade. And also, you know, Quinn Hughes is an elite player, for sure.
“But when you have Jakob Chychrun and John Carlson and Cole Hutson coming, to me, I don’t know if the price, top prospects, we’re talking here, I don’t know if that price would have made sense for what we have. I’m glad Billy did us a favor and kept him out west so we only see him twice a year.”
Patrick’s unwillingness to part with Hutson puts the 19-year-old defender in the same untouchable category for the Capitals as 20-year-old winger Ryan Leonard. Hutson, who the Capitals took in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, is again a point-per-game player for Boston University this season, notching 21 points (7g, 14a) in 21 games.
Hutson recently played for Team USA at the 2026 World Juniors, appearing in just three games after suffering a scary injury that required him to be stretchered off the ice. He has since returned to BU, where he’ll hope to make a run for a national championship in April.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first mentioned the Capitals’ interest in Hughes, as the hockey insider floated them as a dark-horse trade suitor. Friedman then confirmed the team’s interest early on December 12 but correctly stated he believed the Canucks would be unable to “snare the Capitals’ best young players.”
Since being dealt to the Wild, Hughes has produced as expected, recording 16 points (1g, 15a) in 16 games. The 2024 Norris Trophy winner is signed through next season (2026-27) at a $7.85 million cap hit. He will become eligible for a contract extension on July 1.
While the Capitals didn’t decide to pull the trigger on a trade for Hughes, Patrick did confirm that the club is still actively pursuing an addition ahead of this year’s March 6 trade deadline. Patrick mentioned that he believes the team’s biggest need is a “higher-end, skilled winger,” not another defenseman like Hughes.
