Quinn Hughes clears the air on his relationship with Canucks prez Jim Rutherford amid swirling trade rumors

Quinn Hughes addressed his relationship with Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford in a recent interview. Hughes is in the second-to-last year of a six-year contract worth $47.1 million, which runs through the 2026-27 season before he becomes a free agent.

Hughes can sign an extension in July 2026. But rumors often link him to New Jersey, where his brothers play. This conversation started after Rutherford's April comments about Hughes.

Now, during another recent appearance on The Province, Rutherford again commented about Quinn Hughes' situation.

"I believe Quinn and his agent are aware of the direction we want to go," Rutherford said. "And they're aware of the direction they want to go. Everybody wants to play on a winning team. But there's different reasons why people make decisions,"

After practice on Thursday, Hughes finally responded to questions about Rutherford's comments. He said he respects Rutherford and talks to him often.

"I don't know about always being on the same boat or anything like that, but I know that I have tremendous respect for Jim and have no problem talking to Jim and vice versa," Hughes said, via Sportsnet. "He has been a resource for me, and it's been a good relationship for me. So he knows how I feel (and) I know how he feels."

Quinn Hughes, who has 22 points in 19 games this NHL season, said the team’s record plays a role in the noise around him. The Canucks are 10-12-2 and sit near the bottom of the standings. They have lost six out of their last eight games. He said winning games would change the conversation.

"I think this is all about winning games," Hughes said. "If we were winning games, Jim wouldn't have said that. I don't exactly know what he said because I'm not on Twitter or anything, but I heard the gist of it, and I think, if we were winning games, there would be no conversation about this."

Hughes' focus is on playing well and leading the group.

Friedman's report on Canucks and Quinn Hughes

Initially, trade speculation grew after the comments Jim Rutherford made last spring. The topic resurfaced this week after Elliotte Friedman reported that the Canucks are open to moving veteran players. However, he said Quinn Hughes is not part of those talks.

"According to several sources, the Vancouver Canucks have let it be known that - in an effort to get younger - they are willing to listen to offers on 'veteran players.'" Friedman said, before clarifying Cancuks' stand on Hughes. "They've made it clear (trading him) is not their priority right now."

If major changes take place, the Canucks may need time to become competitive again. That uncertainty has added fuel to the ongoing debate about Hughes’ future.