Quinn Hughes was asked by Elliote Friedman on the 32 thought podcast What he would say when he was asked if the Vancouver Canucks has the chance to keep him out of his current contract. There has been speculation, including the own president of Hockey Ops of the Canucks, Jim Rutherford, who may want to leave Quinn and join his brothers in New Jersey. Canucks fans hope that is not true.
When it comes to why he thinks Rutherford made those comments, Quinn said: “I don’t know … Jim is a smart guy. Jim does, you know what he wants to do. I have a lot of respect for Jim, so I’ll just leave it.”
In conversation with Friedman he added: “I mean, I really enjoy Vancouver. I am very grateful, I mean, when I came to Vancouver, I don’t think someone thought I would be what I would be. That is because of the people in Vancouver, management coach, G you know …”
“As far as that question is concerned, I will answer that with my actions next summer.” He added: “Everything can change. If we have a terrible year, it will probably not be very nice. But if we have a great year, that’s what we want.”
What did Hughes mean by that?
Although it was not clear what Hughes tried to point out, there are a number of pick -up restaurants here to consider here.
First he could kick this discussion about his contract on the road. By saying he ‘answers with [his] Actions next summer, ‘Hughes indicates that he is not ready to commit something. Instead, he leaves the door wide open to weigh his options as soon as he sees how the 2025–26 season takes place.
Secondly, his decision could all be about results. His “terrible year” versus “great year” comments is quite telling. When the Canucks flop, he does not sound enthusiastic to get stuck in a rebuilding. But if they succeed, he hinted that a winning environment can convince him to stay in the long term. He actually binds his future directly to the team’s process.
Thirdly, he can use the uncertainty about his future as a leverage or a message to management. Hughes knows the rumors about the joints of his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey will never stop. By being deliberately without obligation, he is subtly under pressure from the Front Office of Vancouver: surrounding me with a competitive schedule, or I can look somewhere else.
Finally, he might have hinted that he seriously thinks about the corner of the New Jersey Devils. The “Answer with my actions” pans is wondering: does this mean that testing the market, maintaining a trade request or leaving through a free agency when time comes? Now that his brothers in New Jersey bloom, the fuel adds to speculation that a family reunion can be in play if the canucks cannot prove that they are on the right track.
Next: Quinn Hughes responds to Jack’s comments about playing together together
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