Jim Rutherford: “We know that Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers”

Published on: April 21, 2025

The Vancouver Canucks have had a truly disappointing season.

They were unable to qualify for the playoffs… due to a number of factors.

Elias Pettersson’s performance, the Pettersson/Miller conflict, Quinn Hughes missing games (14) due to injury: all these factors had an impact on the team’s success on the ice.

It’s clear that the team’s management doesn’t know which way to turn.

In fact, I say that because Jim Rutherford (President) sounded a little crazy today at his end-of-season review.

Speaking of Hughes’ future in Vancouver, Rutherford said that the organization’s goal is to keep him with the team… but Rutherford also said out loud that he knows Hughes wants the chance to play with his two brothers, Jack and Luke.

So the team president “opened the door” to seeing the Canucks trade for Jack and Luke… but in reality, he doesn’t sound like a guy who expects to see all three brothers playing in Vancouver anytime soon.

He (Quinn Hughes) has already said he wants to play with his brothers. That’s out of our control. – Jim Rutherford

“He (Quinn Hughes) has said before he wants to play with his brothers. That would be partly out of our control. In our control if we brought his brothers here.” – Jim Rutherford

: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/P2P0C0xjMd

– CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) April 21, 2025

We agree: the Canucks aren’t going to trade for Jack and Luke Hughes. The reason is simple: it would cost too much… and the Canucks don’t necessarily have the resources to make a deal like that.

That said, we can clearly expect some big changes this summer in Vancouver.

Quinn Hughes’ contract ($7.85 million per year) expires at the end of the 2027 season, but the Canucks could trade him now to maximize his value.

Because right now, his value is at an all-time high.

Elite 25-year-old defensemen like him aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, after all… and if the Canucks want to move on to another story – which seems to be the case with Rutherford’s exit – now would be a good time to send him elsewhere :

Jim Rutherford didn’t openly say that the Canucks would trade their star defenseman this summer.

But just referring to the fact that he wants to play with his brothers adds fuel to the rumor mill when it comes to Quinn Hughes’ future in Vancouver.

Breaking news

– Whew…

This was the Canadiens’ line-up for Game #1 in 2006. The last time the CH started the playoffs without Carey Price in the lineup pic.twitter.com/WfiQlM7BCw

– Guillaume Villemaire (@GVillemaire13) April 21, 2025

– Yikes.

Kyle Dubas was asked if Mike Sullivan would be back next year. The answer wasn’t as clear-cut as you might think: pic.twitter.com/5Ti0tTeWre

– Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) April 21, 2025

– Can’t wait to see it.