NHL Analyst urges Canucks to trade away Quinn Hughes 'sooner rather than later' 

Trade chatter surrounding Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is at an all-time high, and this is primarily because of Vancouver being stuck in a rut. NHL analyst Cam Robinson believes the team should consider making a move sooner than expected.

Speaking on the Sekeres and Price podcast on Tuesday, Robinson spoke about the franchise’s uncertain direction. He suggested that the organization may be nearing an inevitable crossroads with its star defenseman.

When asked if he had accepted the idea of a Quinn Hughes trade, Robinson did not hesitate.

"Yeah, I am," Robinson said. "I think obviously nothing is 100% in this world, and I'm not sitting next to Quinn and hearing him talk about his future, but I think that the writing is very much on the wall about where this is going to end up, and I have mentally prepared myself for that, and I think most people probably have to."

Robinson added that if Hughes were to stay, it would likely be tied to receiving a massive contract, potentially becoming the highest-paid player in NHL history. doing so on a per-year basis while serving as captain of a Canadian team.

Still, he argued that from a team-building perspective, the Canucks would be wiser to trade Hughes sooner rather than later.

"I think the wisest thing for this team at this point is, like, it's tough to give up a player like that, but if you know you're going to, you've got to do it sooner rather than later," Robinson said.

"You move Quinn Hughes this year automatically, you get a bigger return, but the side bar that is your team is much, much worse, and you get a lottery pick, and they need as many top five picks as possible in order to get that dynamic, high-level talent to actually build something long term."

Quinn Hughes, 26, remains Vancouver’s best player, posting 22 points in 22 games while logging more than 27 minutes per night. He continues to drive transition offense in the Canucks’ most dire situations. Even as the Canucks struggle, Hughes has maintained his production and leadership.

Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes drawing interest from other teams

The Canucks, however, sit at 10-14-3 and seventh in the Pacific Division. Defensive issues have plagued them, allowing a league-worst 3.63 goals per game. Their inconsistent special teams and inability to hold leads have contributed to their slide, leaving the front office facing difficult long-term decisions.

Quinn Hughes is signed through the 2026–27 season before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Trade rumors link him most prominently to the New Jersey Devils, where his brothers Jack and Luke play. However, Detroit and Philadelphia have also surfaced as speculative fits.

Despite swirling rumors, Vancouver’s management insists they are not actively shopping their captain. Still, as Robinson notes, if the Canucks believe a breakup is inevitable, they may be forced to confront the decision sooner.