Devils GM gives smart answer when asked about trading for Vancouver Canucks star Hughes
The possibility of Quinn Hughes leaving is weighing on the minds of Vancouver Canucks fans.
Hughes has just two years left on his contract before he becomes a free agent. That scenario would be a nightmare for the Canucks and the fanbase is well aware of it.
The team’s president of hockey operations, Jim Rutherford, isn’t helping matters. He’s been very honest with the media and speculated that Hughes wants to play with his brothers, who are both on the New Jersey Devils.
Rutherford’s comments sent shockwaves through the hockey world. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald was asked about them at his year-end press conference.
“I’m not going to speculate on a comment [about] another team’s player,” said Fitzgerald when asked about potentially adding the third Hughes brother. “You’d have to ask Jim about the comment. For me, we’re going to evaluate our own team, where we need to upgrade and some things. I can’t comment on another player.”
We've reached the point where #NJDevils management is being asked about trading for Quinn Hughes at their year-end press conference. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/Q8mDU3IZvb
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) May 9, 2025
Fitzgerald was careful not to say anything that could land him in trouble with the league for tampering. He also showed a bit of humour by telling the media to ask the always open Rutherford.
Despite Fitzgerald’s modest answer, there’s zero chance that the Devils aren’t excited about the fact that they hold an advantage in any potential Quinn Hughes sweepstakes.
Even if all the Hughes brothers want to play together, that doesn’t necessarily mean Quinn will bolt to the Devils the first chance he gets. There are more international tournaments taking place, and it’s easy to envision all three of them playing together for Team USA, potentially as soon as next year at the Olympics. Only Quinn knows whether that would be enough to get his fix.
As long as both his brothers are together on another team, there will always be rumours that Quinn will join them. Rutherford hasn’t been helping quell that fear with his references to the doomsday scenario of the Canucks having to trade their star or risk letting him walk in free agency for nothing.
Hughes is the captain of the Canucks and has never wavered in his support of the team. The Canucks are lucky to have him and while a worrying situation is on the horizon, for now he’s given no indication he’s made a decision either way.