During the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada yesterday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils have held talks related to the status of Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. Friedman said that while he does “not believe there is anything imminent” regarding Hughes, “a conversation was had” between the two clubs “about where things stand and where they might be going.”
Per The Athletic’s Thomas Drance, Hughes commented on Friedman’s report last night, saying “It’s not like me, [Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford] and [Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald] hopped on a call, I wasn’t a part of that.” He added: “But obviously I’m aware that things like that could happen.”
As the Canucks have struggled to build a team capable of making a serious push towards Stanley Cup contention, the future of Hughes in Vancouver has come under increased scrutiny. The 26-year-old is under contract through 2026-27, and has shied away from verbally committing his future to the only NHL franchise he’s ever known to this point.
Two months ago, Hughes appeared on the 32 Thoughts podcast and appeared non-committal about his future in Vancouver. Jack Hughes expressed strong interest in playing with his older brother at some point in his career, and Quinn, when asked about Jack’s comments, said that he’d “of course” be interested in at some point playing with his two brothers in the NHL.
While that doesn’t mean Quinn is necessarily eyeing the upcoming expiration of his contract as his chance to play with Jack and Luke Hughes, the expiration of his contract does pose a potentially existential threat to the Canucks’ competitive hopes. For what it’s worth, it appears the Canucks have been planning for at least the possibility that Hughes will want to continue his NHL career elsewhere.
Drance reported on Nov. 25 that it’s “been evident for a while is that Vancouver has already undergone some level of contingency planning with regard to Hughes, dating back to this offseason.” He added that the team’s reported interest in Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram and Anaheim Ducks blueliner Pavel Mintyukov may have been part of the club’s long-term planning for the possibility of a Hughes departure, even if their first priority remains signing Hughes to an extension.
The Canucks’ diligence in planning for all potential outcomes related to Hughes may have influenced their decision to reportedly speak to the Devils more recently. 
Because of the fact that New Jersey currently has both of Hughes’ brothers under contract, and appear to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, they’ve been pointed to as the clear front-runner to secure Quinn’s services should he appear on the trade market or in unrestricted free agency.
If Hughes makes it clear he is unwilling to sign an extension in Vancouver, one would have to imagine that the club would aggressively pursue trading Hughes for the best possible return. Hughes is in the middle of his prime and is among the league’s top defensemen.
Even with an expiring contract next season, the Canucks would likely receive a massive return of assets in exchange for Hughes, assets that could jump-start the club’s push back towards real Stanley Cup contention.
Speaking to the Devils to at least touch base on things, as Friedman has reported the Canucks have done, then becomes a natural part of preparing for all potential outcomes. If the Canucks eventually do consider trading Hughes, the Devils would instantly become a key team in the race to acquire him, so to speak with the Devils now allows the Canucks to at least begin to lay the groundwork for any future trade talks that could be held.
While as Friedman appeared to note, it still appears to be too early for the Canucks to get into serious conversations about what a Hughes trade would look like, it’s not too early for them to feel out the landscape of what teams might be interested in Hughes, and how interested those teams might be.
Photos courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Canucks do need to tear it down.
Trading Hughes in his prime and Pettersson while you still can is (seemingly obviously) better than spinning their wheels and losing the former for nothing (or a lesser return closer to UFA status) while getting stuck with the latter.
Nemec, Mercer, or Hamilton probably 2 of the 3 would probably have to be part of the deal
Friedman has NO facts to backup up his latest made up rumor, His job title is self proclaimed, He has proven time, And time again, That he like all socalled insiders, Are just frauds.
This team has no idea what they are doing. They should’ve blown it up before signing m Patterson and their goalies. Wait until the off season and trade hughs. You know he’s going to NJ.
No, do it ASAP because as the losing continues so will the noise. Get as many teams into the discussion as possible. My wife Sylvia always says lance that boil before it gets so big that uncle Oscar starts pointing it out…
During the season is difficult. Cap reasons and most teams are set. In the off season you can have time to prepare and make a pitch. This is one where you wait. NJ has the inside track here, so you need time to work out something fair.
I’m wondering when GMJR will stop being the fake GM, and let Allvin do the talking. Otherwise, he could end up being his own worst enemy for any future transactions involving Quinn & Petey.
JR has always been his own worst enemy. He acts without thinking. Sometimes it works, like in Pittsburgh early and most of the time he digs a deeper hole.
@’Tang It — We love the candor, but he isn’t effecting change with anyone else in the league. The rest of the GMs are usually too tight-lipped to be good interviews. “Tre” and GMBT are interesting when they have to go furnace face on their teams. Craig Conroy in CGY is good to listen to, as well.
New Jersey doesn’t have to trade for Quinn, if he really wants to play with his brothers, he won’t sign a new contract even if traded to another team. No team would trade for him without knowing they can sign him.
Soooo wait until after next season and get him for free…
Can someone smarter than me explain how they are going to fit all 3 Hughes brothers under the cap? Not saying they can’t I just don’t know how.
Trade Hamilton, Hughes has a lower cap hit
I really don’t see how having Luke AND Quinn helps the Devils from a cap situation. I think it works out better to sign him as a FA. Hamiltons deal will be done and they could move Nemec and/or Casey for forward help