At this point, it would be a surprise if Quinn Hughes isn’t traded by the Vancouver Canucks.

The future of the Canucks captain has been the main point of focus since the end of last season, when Jim Rutherford admitted that Hughes could be destined to join his brothers in New Jersey.

That gave this season extra importance. They needed to return to the playoffs and show positive signs for the future to convince Hughes to stay.

Instead? It couldn’t have gone much worse.

The Canucks are second last in the NHL, and most now agree that the team needs to rebuild.

So the question has become, when will Canucks management pull the trigger on a deal? Will they wait until the offseason, or do it before the trade deadline?

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman doubled down on his report from Saturday, noting that the Canucks and New Jersey Devils have had trade talks concerning the former Norris Trophy winner.

“Once the Canucks put the memo out, I think there was a conversation [with the Devils],” Friedman said on Monday’s edition of 32 Thoughts. “I don’t know who initiated it, and I don’t know exactly what was said, but I know they talked at least once.”

The Devils aren’t the only team that appears to have made contact with the Canucks regarding a potential Hughes trade.

The Detroit Red Wings, effectively the hometown team of the Hughes family, are also in the rumour mill.

“I do believe that if Vancouver and Detroit wanted to make a deal, I do believe there is a deal to be made there. And I also think they’ve talked,” Friedman said.

Friedman noted how difficult information is to get from sources regarding Hughes, calling it a “hand grenade.”

“People don’t want to talk about it in the league. They don’t want to talk about Quinn Hughes. And I think it’s because they know how big a deal it is.”

“They’re talking about it. That’s as far as I’m going for now.”

Another theory that has popped up in recent months is that Quinn joining the Devils could actually have a negative impact on his youngest brother, Luke Hughes, given it would likely permanently push the 22-year-old defenceman to the second power play unit.

Doesn’t mean Hughes will re-sign in Vancouver, but it might mean that reuniting the brothers isn’t a near-term goal.

“At the very least, I think the Canucks and the Devils wanted to try to find out the answer. That’s where I think it is. I think teams are talking with the Canucks about it. We’ll see where it goes.”

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