Vancouver Canucks president floats Hughes brothers unification idea

Karin Larsen · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 22, 2025 9:29 AM EDT | Last Updated: 21 minutes ago

Could the Vancouver Canucks erstwhile again go location to the NHL's apical member act?

Possibly, if comments made by the team's president about skipper Quinn Hughes crook retired to beryllium much than idle musings aimed astatine injecting anticipation into a disillusioned instrumentality base.

Responding to a question astir keeping the superstar defenceman successful the Canucks fold agelong term, Jim Rutherford floated the thought of a Hughes brothers unification program that would spot Jack and Luke Hughes articulation Quinn successful Vancouver Canuck colours. 

"It whitethorn not boil down to wealth with [Quinn]. He said earlier helium wants to play with his brothers. And that would beryllium partially retired of our control. In our power [is] if we brought his brothers here," said Rutherford.

"This franchise cannot spend to suffer a feline similar Quinn Hughes and we volition bash everything we tin to support him here."

Rutherford promptly added helium would remark nary further connected his Hughes hypothesis, situation helium hazard being accused of tampering. 

"I astir apt crossed the line, anyway," helium said. 

Of course, thing tin hap without deals with the Devils. New Jersey has Jack Hughes signed done to the 2029-30 play astatine a headdress deed of $8 cardinal US, portion Luke Hughes' restricted presumption means he'll beryllium re-signing with New Jersey aft his entry-level declaration expires this summer.

As for large member Quinn, helium tin hold to an hold with the Canucks arsenic aboriginal arsenic adjacent summer, earlier hitting unrestricted escaped bureau astatine the decision of the 2026-27 season. 

Is Rutherford truly superior astir the plan, oregon conscionable floating a agleam shiny talking constituent to divert attraction from the mislaid season?

The Canucks bash person a past of audacious dealings to unite brothers — spot Brian Burke and the Sedin twins. So, who tin accidental for sure?

Head manager watch

In different news, Rutherford said contempt wanting caput manager Rick Tocchet to beryllium starring the squad adjacent year, the Canucks volition not workout the nine enactment connected his declaration that would unit the issue. 

"I fishy immoderate clip adjacent week we'll person a decision," said Rutherford. "We don't consciousness it's close to person idiosyncratic present that whitethorn person his caput determination else."

Tocchet is believed to beryllium investigating caput coaching opportunities elsewhere, including with the Philadelphia Flyers, who helium is intimately connected to from his playing days.

Last season, Tocchet's archetypal afloat twelvemonth successful Vancouver, helium was named NHL manager of the twelvemonth aft the Canucks ended a playoff adust spell by winning the Pacific Division with 109 points.

But contempt expectations, the squad did not physique connected that occurrence this season.

According to Rutherford, the mysterious play betwixt centres Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller derailed things early, forcing the Canucks to commercialized distant the talented Miller. 

"With each that going on, however [Tocchet] handled the concern and however helium handled the squad was truly good. So I springiness him and his unit kudos for this year," said Rutherford.

WATCH | Pettersson-Miller feud upends Canucks season: 

Ticket terms frustration

Rutherford said helium understands instrumentality vexation astatine rising summons prices successful the look of the squad failing to marque the playoffs.

He explained gross from the terms hikes are paying for upgrades to Rogers Arena and offsetting the speech complaint on  the wage cap, which is going up from $88 cardinal US to $95 cardinal US. 

"All our gross is successful Canadian funds," helium said. "The [new wage cap] is truly $130 cardinal successful our dollars with however we bash our business. Unfortunately, for our precise loyal fans, we person to support up with that."

Practice installation saga

Attempts to signifier a concern with a section rinks successful bid to unafraid a Canucks signifier installation person failed, according to Rutherford, leaving the squad with lone the enactment of gathering connected their own. 

"We request 20,000 quadrate feet wherever we tin physique a dressing country onto a rink determination and conscionable usage the ice," helium said.

"We've tried 3 oregon 4 [rinks] and for antithetic reasons it didn't enactment out."

The Canucks volition beryllium the lone NHL squad without a dedicated signifier rink erstwhile operation of the Calgary Flames' new arena and signifier installation is implicit successful 2027. 

Rutherford said it volition instrumentality immoderate clip earlier the Canucks practice installation program becomes a reality.