The Vancouver Canucks have had a tough year, and things might get even more stressful. After a great 2022-23 season where they won the Pacific Division and made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, this season has been full of setbacks. The team won 12 fewer games, missed the playoffs, and faced tension between star players Elias Pettersson and former teammate J.T. Miller.
Now, there’s more to worry about — the future of team captain and star defenseman Quinn Hughes.
What’s the Concern About Quinn Hughes?
Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, spoke to the media recently and mentioned that the team is already thinking about how to keep Quinn Hughes for the long term. Hughes can sign a contract extension starting July 1, 2026. If he doesn’t, he’ll become a free agent in 2027.
Rutherford said the team will make sure they have enough salary cap space to give Hughes a good contract. But money might not be the only thing that matters here. Hughes has previously said that he would love to play with his brothers — Jack and Luke Hughes — who both play for the New Jersey Devils.
Rutherford even hinted that Vancouver could try to bring Hughes’ brothers to the team, but let’s be real — that won’t be easy. Jack Hughes is a star forward signed with New Jersey through 2030, and Luke is one of the league’s best young defensemen. The Canucks don’t have the trade assets to pull something like that off.
Why Fans Are Nervous
Hughes is the face of the Canucks right now. Losing him would be a huge blow, not just to the defense but to the entire team. And the Canucks don’t have much power in this situation. After such a disappointing season, they don’t have the upper hand in negotiations. That means they need to come up with different plans for what to do next.
The Best Option: Win Him Over by Winning
Plan A is simple: convince Hughes to stay by making the Canucks a strong, competitive team again. Last year, they were close to reaching the Western Conference Finals with Hughes playing like a Norris Trophy winner and coach Rick Tocchet winning the Jack Adams Award. But this year’s performance has pushed them far behind top teams like New Jersey.
To win back that competitive edge, the Canucks need to be bold in free agency and the trade market. They must make the next two seasons count and try hard to chase a Stanley Cup. That might be the only way to convince Hughes to stay long-term.
Other Tough Choices Ahead
If Plan A fails, then Plan B might be trading Hughes before it’s too late. If the Canucks wait until his contract ends, the Devils could just sign him without giving Vancouver anything in return. That would be a worst-case scenario.
But even trading him early won’t solve everything. Players like Hughes don’t come around often. He’s in the same league as top defenders like Cale Makar and Zach Werenski — and they’re not going anywhere.
Adding to the pressure, goalie Thatcher Demko’s contract ends next season, and there’s no guarantee that coach Rick Tocchet will stay either. If the Canucks aren’t careful, they could lose their captain, top goalie, and head coach without getting anything in return — just some extra salary cap space.
Still Some Hope Left
There is still time for the Canucks to turn things around. They can try to follow the example of the Winnipeg Jets, who re-signed stars Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck before it was too late. Vancouver’s management needs to work quickly and smartly to keep their core players happy and secure their future.
The truth is, when a star player wants to leave, it’s hard to stop them. If Quinn Hughes is truly set on playing with his brothers, there might not be much the Canucks can do. But until that happens, Vancouver has a chance — and they need to make the most of it.
