It’s been over seven months since Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford sent shockwaves through the hockey world.
His admission that Quinn Hughes may want to play with his brothers in New Jersey spiralled into a league-wide story.
It was a story heading into the season, and the speculation has only increased with the Canucks being one of the worst teams in the NHL.
That’s why a report from NHL insider Frank Seravalli on Wednesday is a surprising one.
During an appearance on Sportsnet 650’s Halford and Brough show, Seravalli shed some light about what he’s hearing regarding Hughes’ future in Vancouver.
“I’ve made a lot of phone calls in the last week to try and drill down on the Quinn Hughes story,” Seravalli said. “And the people closest to him that know him best say he’s 100 per cent committed to the Canucks and doesn’t plan on going anywhere.”
“So, take that for what you will.”
True or not, that report is more heartwarming than a Michael Bublé Christmas song for Canucks fans.
Because, based on the Canucks record and the fact that the New Jersey Devils have been one of the best teams in the league all season, no one in Vancouver could fault Hughes for wanting to leave.
Even if many Canucks fans are thirsty for a rebuild, that’s largely rooted in a belief that Hughes is going to leave. No one of sound mind wants to see the team lose a generational talent.
Of course, if the season continues to spiral, the Canucks may have no choice.
“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,” Seravalli said.
“But the conversation that Quinn Hughes has had internally, again, with some of the people closest to him, he’s not thinking about that, he’s not talking about it. He has reiterated on a number of occasions that he’s 100 per cent committed to the Canucks. That’s out of his own mouth to people around him.”
“Now, is he saying something different at home? Is he planning or plotting something different? I couldn’t begin to tell you. I can only share what I know.”
Hughes has continued to produce offence this season, registering 21 points in 18 games. However, he hasn’t been as sharp defensively as he has in years past.
If the Canucks don’t clean up their act defensively, rumours about trading Hughes and other veterans are only going to amplify.