The Vancouver Canucks struggled this past season, with captain Quinn Hughes standing out as their top performer. While the defenseman continues to excel on the ice, speculation about his future with the team keeps growing.
With just two years left on his contract and a desire to join his brother in New Jersey, many fans expect Hughes to walk when his deal expires. To quiet the noise in Vancouver, Canucks president Jim Rutherford has finally spoken up, hoping to ease some nerves.
Canucks President Steps In to Cool Quinn Hughes Rumors
With two years remaining on his contract, speculation is mounting about Hughes’ future in Vancouver. Reports suggest he may be unhappy with the team’s direction, especially after the Canucks missed the playoffs again this past season, marking their eighth miss in the last decade.
These repeated playoff misses have fueled speculation that Quinn Hughes might leave Vancouver when his current contract expires in 2027. Adding to the chatter, his brother Jack Hughes expressed a desire to play alongside him in the NHL.
“Honestly, I’m not afraid to say it. Yeah, I would love for Quinn to; eventually, I’d love to play with him,” Jack said during the NHL Player Media Tour on September 9. With both Jack and Luke Hughes playing for the New Jersey Devils, speculation is mounting that Quinn Hughes might eventually join his brothers in New Jersey.
NHL Rumors: Quinn Hughes Exit Speculation Gains Another Voice With Canucks on the Clock
However, while the rumors were running wild, Rutherford finally decided to break his silence on the matter.
“I don’t think I told anybody anything they didn’t already know. I mean, come on!” he told The Athletic‘s Thomas Drance. Rutherford believes that his commentary regarding Hughes last summer has altered the conversation around his captain somewhat. The Canucks president continued to stress how important the defenseman is for the franchise.
Jim Rutherford says the #Canucks are kind of “caught in between” with the lack of certainty around Quinn Hughes’ long term future in terms of whether to decide to give up lots of future assets to improve the roster now. @Sportsnet650
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) September 17, 2025
“Everyone is aware of it and everyone will talk about it until we get dizzy,” he said. He mentioned that Hughes is the only one who can make the decision to stay or not stay in Vancouver. But he also believes that he doesn’t have to make that decision yet.
Rutherford continued, “You can spin this thing 100 different ways, but there’s only one guy that will make that decision, and he’ll make it for whatever reason.” However, he also mentioned that it is the Canucks’ responsibility to put the best team they can on the ice.
He mentioned that GM Patrik Allvin was working towards that goal. If the Canucks want to secure a playoff berth, they need to keep Hughes for the foreseeable future. With 76 points (16 goals, 60 assists) this past season, he was the team’s leading scorer.
And this upcoming season, which officially kicks off the regular season on October 7, he will be the player whom the Canucks will be looking at to drive them back to the postseason.
