As the Vancouver Canucks continue to struggle this season, NHL insiders are buzzing about the potential trade of their captain, Quinn Hughes. While many believe the star defenseman is destined to join his brothers, Jack and Luke, on the New Jersey Devils, a recent report suggests another Metropolitan Division team could be a strong contender: the Philadelphia Flyers.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Canucks have opened up to offers for veteran players in an effort to get younger, but Hughes and Filip Hronek are not a priority to be traded. However, with the Canucks sitting at 9-12-2 and 30th in the league standings, their poor performance is not helping convince Hughes to stay long-term. His contract is set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Insider Frank Seravalli believes the Flyers would "salivate" at the opportunity to acquire Hughes. He notes that while the Devils are the obvious choice due to his brothers playing there, acquiring Hughes might come at the expense of Luke Hughes's ice time on the power play.
Hughes, 26, is currently in the fifth year of a six-year, $47.1 million contract with an annual cap hit of $7.85 million. In 2025-26, he will earn a base salary of $10.25 million. Despite the team's struggles, Hughes has been a standout performer, leading the Canucks in scoring with 21 points in 18 games.
The possibility of Hughes being traded gained traction after his brother, Jack, expressed his desire for them to play together in the NHL. Canucks President Jim Rutherford acknowledged this desire, stating that it might be out of the team's control. He also added that the team might have to consider trading Hughes if an extension isn't agreed upon before the 2026-27 trade deadline.
While the Devils seem like the most likely destination, they would need to clear cap space to accommodate Hughes's $7.85 million cap hit. The Flyers, with Rick Tocchet as their coach, could be a sneaky good option. Hughes has previously expressed his admiration for Tocchet as a coach during their time together in Vancouver.
According to Sportsnet's Rick Dhaliwal, the Canucks may decide on Hughes' future before the March 6 trade deadline if they believe an extension is unlikely. He stated that the Canucks believe it would be better to trade Hughes this year if he doesn't want to commit to the franchise long term.
Elliotte Friedman reported that the Canucks are looking to get younger and more dynamic, and are willing to listen to offers on veteran players. This could involve unrestricted free agents or players with term left on their deals, but the Canucks are not looking to completely rebuild.
If the Canucks decide to trade Hughes, they would be giving up one of the league's best defensemen. However, a trade could allow them to accumulate valuable assets and draft picks to rebuild their team.
As the trade deadline approaches, the speculation surrounding Quinn Hughes's future will only intensify. Whether he ends up with the Devils, the Flyers, or remains in Vancouver, his decision will significantly impact the direction of both the Canucks and his new team.
