NHL Rumors: Insider clears the air on Quinn Hughes' Canucks future amid Maple Leafs trade buzz

Trade chatter around Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has grown louder in recent weeks. Speculation increased after reports linked the Toronto Maple Leafs to potential interest in the star defenseman.

During an appearance on Sportsnet 650, NHL insider Frank Seravalli addressed the rumors directly. He said he spent the week contacting people close to Hughes to understand the situation. According to Seravalli, those closest to Hughes say he is 100% committed to Vancouver.

"I've made a lot of phone calls in the last week to try and drill down on the Quinn Hughes story, and the people closest to him that know him best say he's 100% committed to the Canucks and doesn't plan on going anywhere," Seravalli said.

Quinn Hughes is in the second-to-last year of his six-year, $47.1 million contract. His contract expires after the 2026-27 season, and he will become an unrestricted free agent if no new contract is signed. This timeline has added to speculation about his future, although there is time, since he will be eligible to sign a new contract on July 1, 2026.

Many believe Hughes could move on, especially with the team struggling. Seravalli explained that the situation remains undefined and could change based on the Canucks’ long-term direction.

"I think it's undefined," Seravalli said. "I mean, look, feelings change, things change, windows to win become different realities, which I think is really what the Canucks are staring down at this exact moment in time.

"And I don't think Jim Rutherford's quote yesterday to Patrick Johnson really helped anything in terms of the narrative or discussion, because it seemed to be so open-ended."

Seravalli repeated that Hughes has not discussed leaving and has told people around him that he plans to stay.

"He has reiterated on a number of occasions that he's 100% committed to the Canucks." Seravalli said.

For now, Seravalli says the noise does not match Hughes’ own stance.

Quinn Hughes' consistent performance amid Canucks struggles

On the ice, Quinn Hughes remains Vancouver’s most reliable player. He has 22 points in 19 games and logs over 27 minutes per night. His power-play work continues to drive the offense with strong playmaking. His minus-5 rating reflects team defense issues rather than his performance. He has delivered multi-assist games against top opponents.

Meanwhile, the Canucks sit at 10-12-2 with decent offense, but defensive problems persist. The penalty kill remains near the bottom of the league. Vancouver needs more consistency to compete for a playoff spot. So for now, Hughes continues to lead the team while outside noise grows around him.