The Vancouver Canucks' fanbase is in for an important season. After missing the playoffs last year, dealing with a reported beef between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson resulting in the former's trade, and Rick Tocchet leaving for the Philadelphia Flyers, there is still more uncertainty for the Canucks to deal with. Of course, that's Quinn Hughes.
Hughes is under contract for two more seasons before hitting free agency. During the NHL's offseason media tour, Hughes stressed that he's not yet worried about a contract, as he wants to see what direction the Canucks head in this upcoming season. As in, will this team make the playoffs or miss out again? The big question that surrounds Quinn is if he will team up with his younger brothers Jack and Luke, who both play for the New Jersey Devils.
Well, the odds of a Hughes family reunion in New Jersey seem higher now after the Devils and Luke agreed to terms on a seven-year, $63 million contract extension. Luke had been a restricted free agent and sat out for much of the preseason. Now, he is under contract for the foreseeable future.
Quinn Hughes teaming up with brothers Jack and Luke on Devils looks more likely than ever
With Luke locked into a contract for the next eight seasons, the Devils no longer have to worry about contract negotiations with him. Jack is under contract through the 2029-30 season. So, that opens the door for the Devils to pursue Quinn, either by a trade or in free agency in the summer of 2027.
If they do wait until free agency in 2027, the Devils are projected to have $53.1 million in cap space, according to Puck Pedia. So there is room for the Devils to fit in a contract for Quinn.
Canucks fans have been aware of this potentially becoming a reality. Even Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said that it is entirely likely that Quinn would want to team up with his brothers in the future.
"It may not boil down to money with him. He's said before he wants to play with his brothers. That would be partly out of our control. In our control would be if we brought his brothers here," Rutherford said, h/t ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.
Rutherford interestingly said that Quinn teaming up with his brothers is out of his control only if he can't bring Jack and Luke over to Vancouver. Given the contract situations with Jack and Luke, both of whom cost a total of $17 million annually, that's highly unlikely. Plus, why would the Devils trade either of them?
When Jack was on the NHL media tour earlier this month, he did not hesitate to say publicly that he'd love to team up with Quinn.
"Honestly, I'm not afraid to say it. Eventually, I'd love to play with him. And whether that's in New Jersey or at what time that takes, at some point, I want to play with Quinn," he told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "But yeah, that's the question going around. They talk all day about it up in Vancouver, you know? But yeah, I'd love to play with Quinn at some point."
Quinn Hughes downplays chance to play with brothers
Quinn, meanwhile, downplayed Jack's comments during an interview with Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.
"I don't even think it's a big deal. Like, I got off the plane yesterday and Victoria was telling me about it. But I'm like 'What's he supposed to say that he doesn't want to play with me?' Like, he's not going to say that. But like, I would love to play with [Jack and Luke]...
"... It'd be very cool. But I mean, I'm really looking forward to this year in Vancouver, just because I feel like it's a challenge to me to see if we can have a successful year and make this a successful organization, which I think we can do. And I'm looking forward to that challenge. And as far as Jack, I think that he's going to do the same thing with New Jersey."
Quinn's future in Vancouver will be in question for the next two seasons. He wants to see them make strides and get back to their winning ways. If that doesn't happen, it becomes increasingly likely he hits free agency. If that does happen, the Devils would be a team everyone watches to see if they can pull off a Hughes family reunion.