Quinn Hughes responds to rumors of a trade to New Jersey.

On Saturday night, National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell when he confirmed that the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils have had talks about a trade that would involve Canucks star defenseman Quinn Hughes.

It was a stunning report that sent shockwaves through the Vancouver and New Jersey markets and it didn't take long before the player at the center of it all was asked to share his thoughts on the matter. Following the conclusion of a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, Quinn Hughes was asked if he had heard the report and what his thoughts were on the matter.

"I'm on the ice, it wasn't like if there was a call me, Jim and Fitzy hopped on a call," said Hughes making light of the situation. "I wasn't a part of that, but obviously I am aware that things like that could happen for sure."

Hughes is regarded as one of the NHL's truly elite defensemen and any trade involving him would be extremely complicated given the huge return the Canucks would seek in a trade of that nature. That being said, there have long been rumblings that the 3 Hughes brothers, Quinn, Jack and Luke, would like to play together on a single NHL team one day. While those rumblings always seemed extremely far fetched to say the least, they now seem more likely than ever before given Friedman's report on Saturday night.

Hughes is having another fantastic season with 2 goals and 20 assists for 22 points in just 24 games this season, numbers only made more impressive with the added context that he is playing on the last placed team in the Pacific Division.

Stay tuned for more on this rapidly developing story.