Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes found himself back in the spotlight of trade rumors after his recent comments stirred things up again. The Canucks are coming off a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild, snapping their four-game losing streak, but they still sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division.
With the team struggling, speculation has grown that Hughes could become a trade option, and his latest remarks shed more light on where things actually stand.
Quinn Hughes Breaks His Silence on Trade Rumors
Ever since the Canucks made it clear they were “open for business,” rumors started circulating about Hughes’ future. The New Jersey Devils have long been viewed as a possible destination, mainly because his brothers, Jack and Luke, both play there. Quinn has also mentioned before that he’d like to play with his brothers someday, adding fuel to the chatter.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently reported that the Canucks and Devils have spoken about Hughes, though nothing is close or imminent.
After Vancouver’s win over Minnesota, NHL reporter Thomas Drance asked Hughes about the report. Hughes responded:
“It’s not like me, (Canucks president Jim Rutherford) Jim + Fitzy (Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald) hopped on a call, I wasn’t a part of that. But obviously I’m aware that things like that could happen.”
“It’s not like me, Jim + Fitzy hopped on a call, I wasn’t a part of that,” said Quinn Hughes when I asked for his reaction to HNIC report about conversations about his future occurring between the #Canucks and Devils. “But obviously I’m aware that things like that could happen.”
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) December 7, 2025
That “things like that could happen” line was enough to reignite the fire around the rumors.
Some fans, however, were frustrated with the timing of the question, coming right after a much-needed win. One fan commented, “Why would you ask him that after them getting a win tonight? Just curious.”
Drance defended the question, replying: “Because it’s a report from the most trusted insider in the business about the best defenseman in franchise history, whose future is the biggest story around the team I cover right now. Seems pretty obvious!”
Hughes is currently in the fifth year of his six-year, $47.1 million contract. He is eligible for an extension in July.
Drance later added that players nearing contract pressure points, like upcoming UFA years or extension eligibility, are naturally asked about their futures, especially when credible reports surface. Hughes’ family ties only make the story more unique.
With the Canucks heading into their next matchup against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, all eyes will be on how this situation continues to unfold.
