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The Vancouver Canucks have spoken to clubs about Quinn Hughes, as a notable insider doubled down on confirmation.
The rumor mill has been working overtime as it pertains to the Vancouver Canucks. Since the club officially declared that it is “open for business,” speculation has been rampant. The bulk of the chatter, however, has focused on captain Quinn Hughes.
The Canucks and Hughes have been forthcoming about the uncertainty regarding his contract situation. Hughes will be eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2026. But given the amount of talk surrounding the team, an extension doesn’t seem automatic.
During the weekend, insider Elliotte Friedman discussed on Saturday Headlines that the Canucks had a conversation with the New Jersey Devils about Hughes. The comments set off a blaze of speculation about Hughes joining the Devils this season.
Now, Friedman doubled down on his comments in Monday’s edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast. During the show, Friedman confirmed that both the Devils and the Detroit Red Wings had discussed acquiring Hughes.
While the admission is hardly a secret, it’s telling that there’s confirmation about the talk. Friedman stated:
“Once the Canucks put the memo out, I think there was a conversation. And I don’t know who initiated it, and I don’t know exactly what was said, but I know they talked at least once. And I heard it was about, ‘okay, where does everything stand? And where are we going?’”
Friedman was adamant about the fact that nothing is imminent. But, at the very least, there has been talk between the Devils and Canucks. It remains unclear if anything will ever happen.
Check out Friedman’s comments from the 24-minute mark onwards.
Canucks Captain Addresses Speculation
Hughes addressed the chatter following his team’s win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night. The Canucks pulled out a 4-2 win despite being severely shorthanded. The Province quoted Hughes’ comments:
“It’s not like me, Jim (Canucks president Rutherford) and Fitzy (Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald) hopped on a call, I wasn’t part of that. But, obviously, I’m aware that things like that could happen.”
Hughes’ comments signaled that he wasn’t a part of the Canucks-Devils conversation. While the belief is that Hughes would be part of the process, at least he’s not at this stage.
Perhaps the Canucks will come to their captain when there’s something substantial on the table. Perhaps not. It’s worth pointing out that Hughes does not have any trade protection at this point.
Hughes Trade Is Topic Everyone Would Rather Avoid
One of the other comments Friedman made on the matter was how much everyone around the Hughes trade situation would rather avoid the subject. It’s a touchy subject that could upset one of the most ardent fan bases in the NHL.
Failing to handle the chatter properly could have awful consequences for the Canucks. Namely, the terrible optics could leave the organization with a black eye. The team has already taken plenty of heat for leaking information regarding their plans.
So, it could be a situation where Vancouver, Hughes, and other interested teams may try to keep the situation under wraps. But until Hughes signs an extension in Vancouver, the chatter won’t go away.
The deadline for a trade will be March 6, 2026. After that, the speculation will ramp up once the offseason officially begins.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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