Elliotte Friedman links new metro division team to Quinn Hughes: 'They have the pieces'

The Quinn Hughes trade rumours have been going on for quite some time, but over the past few weeks, things have begun to heat up, with teams all across the league eyeing the Vancouver Canucks captain.

Recently, Elliotte Friedman speculated that there could be a deal to be made with the Detroit Red Wings, just days after reports emerged that Vancouver were discussing a potential deal with the New Jersey Devils.

Now, Friedman continues speculating on the future of No. 43, as he stated on The Fan Hockey Show that the Pittsburgh Penguins are a team with the assets to get Hughes, with potential interest from Kyle Dubas in making a major splash.

On paper, the Penguins would benefit in a big way from landing Hughes, and if they could pair him with the veteran duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, it would make them genuine contenders in the Eastern Conference.

However, that does come with a major but, as he states that it's unclear if Hughes would be interested in playing for Pittsburgh, as any potential deal would hinge on his willingness to sign a long-term extension ahead of free agency in the summer of 2027.

Ultimately, this is going to end up in a bidding war for Hughes, and if that happens, the Penguins need to be sure that risking their future for the star defenseman would be worth it in the short-term, but as of right now, it appears as though more and more teams are chasing Hughes, and that could see his price continue to rise.