Speculation surrounding Quinn Hughes’ long-term Vancouver Canucks future continues to grow.
With the Canucks facing major structural uncertainty after head coach Rick Tocchet's exit, questions are mounting about whether their captain might eventually push for a move to join his brothers in New Jersey to play for the Devils.
On Friday morning’s episode of "The Sheet with Jeff Marek," longtime NHL analyst and former executive Pierre McGuire addressed the rumors directly.
McGuire referenced Canucks president Jim Rutherford’s end-of-season comments and strongly suggested there might be more than just smoke behind the speculation.
“I do think they want to play together,” McGuire said. “And that was speculated a long time ago, when Luke was, you know, when the potential to draft Luke was there. Because it wasn’t (current Devils GM) Tommy Fitzgerald who drafted Jack Hughes, it was Ray Shero who drafted Jack Hughes, the late Ray Shero.
“So then Tommy took over for Ray when Ray got let go, and obviously he took Luke Hughes. So you know, now Quinn’s out there on the horizon.
“Do I think he could be a member of the New Jersey Devils? I do, I do. Jimmy never would’ve put that out there unless he thought the same thing.”
The 25-year-old defenseman has two years remaining on his six-year, $47.1 million contract. He’s coming off a campaign with 76 points in 68 games, and the NHL named him a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the best defenseman in the league.
Rutherford admitted in late April that Hughes has expressed a personal desire to play alongside Jack and Luke Hughes, both of whom are already central to New Jersey’s core.
“We will do everything we can to keep him here,” Rutherford said. “But at the end of the day, it’ll be his decision.”
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