"(Quinn) said before he wants to play with his brothers, and that would be partly out of our control. In our control if we brought his brothers here. There's many moving parts, agree 100%. This franchise could not afford to lose a guy like Quinn Hughes, and we will do everything we can to keep him here."Jim Rutherford, Canucks President
The above quote came from the Vancouver Canucks end-of-season press conference, and it started months of dialogue, rumor mongering, and trade speculation with the New Jersey Devils. Of course, there's no way the Devils are trading Jack and/or Luke Hughes to the Canucks or anywhere else.
Even with the Luke Hughes contract delay, the Hughes brothers are staying in New Jersey for the foreseeable future. The only question is whether the eldest Hughes brother is going to join them, whether by trade or when he hits free agency in 2027.
So it might not come as a surprise that the Canucks front office is preparing to lose their captain, even if that's a worst-case scenario. It is a surprise how out loud they are being about it. Hughes himself has said this year will determine whether he re-signs in Vancouver or plays out his deal. So, when given the chance to clarify his comments from before the summer, Rutherford's response might surprise some.
Jim Rutherford on the comments he made last year about Quinn Hughes wanting to play with this brothers: I don't think I told anybody anything they didn't already know. I mean, c'mon. This wasn't a surprise. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) September 17, 2025
Vancouver Canucks president doubles down on Quinn Hughes comments before training camp
So... that seems to be the story the Canucks are sticking to. Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers, but his brothers play about as far away from Vancouver as possible. They are close to 3,000 miles from each other. It would take two days without sleep to drive between the Prudential Center and Rogers Arena. We have to believe that the brothers will be moving closer together soon enough.
As far as the comments are concerned, it can't be good for Canucks fans to constantly hear this. But we have to understand that the reality is that Rutherford and the entire Canucks front office is fighting for their jobs. After how bad last year went, they need to get back to the playoffs this season.
Are these comments setting themselves up to ownership, setting a foundation of disappointment for the fanbase, or the words of a desperate executive putting everything out there? Either way, the more dramatic this becomes, the more leverage Tom Fitzgerald might have in negotiations.