After this game the team heads out on a five game road trip, known as the Quinn Hughes showcase tour<\/p>\n
Published Dec 11, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 13 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Welcome to Canucks Live. Here we\u2019ll highlight some of the news that drops daily about the Canucks. Come back throughout the day as we update with all the news you need to know. If you haven\u2019t done so already, sign up for our Canucks Report<\/a> to get our stories delivered to your inbox every day.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Best wishes to all of our readers and we hope you are all unaffected by the flooding and deluge on Wednesday. At least you have a Canucks game to cheer you up?<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Sabres come to town and it\u2019s the final home game before they head out on a long road trip and just the third to last game of 2025 at home. If you were thinking about going there are tickets on Stub Hub, plenty of them,<\/a> for under $60.<\/p>\n Boeser being checked for possible appendix ailment<\/p>\n What do the Canucks want for Christmas?<\/p>\n Health and happiness.<\/p>\n First, the health. The Canucks got Thatcher Demko<\/a> back Thursday after the starting goaltender missed 12 games with a groin strain. And they recently welcomed Nils Hoglander<\/a>\u2019s return after the bowling-ball winger suffered an ankle fracture in a pre-season game at Abbotsford.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n However, on Thursday the injury bug was biting again. Brock Boeser<\/a> woke up with discomfort and was being checked out for a possible appendix problem and is an obvious game-day decision. He needs to get his game in order. Same with other top guns.<\/p>\n Boeser has gone five games without scoring and has one goal in his last 12 outings. Jake DeBrusk hasn\u2019t lit the lamp in nine games and leading scorer Kiefer Sherwood hasn\u2019t built on his club-leading 12 goals in the last 10 outings.<\/p>\n Next, the happiness. A win tonight to end a four-game home stand might give the Canucks some confidence heading into a gruelling five-game, nine-day road trip that opens Sunday with a matinee in New Jersey. If they stumble, stop all the they-might-make-the-playoffs talk.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n You sadly won\u2019t get to see the Canucks back at full strength though, as Ben Kuzma reported yesterday Elias Pettersson is close<\/a>.<\/p>\n Filip Chytil continues to skate on his own in a long and slow recovery from his sixth concussion suffered Oct. 19 in Washington. Teddy Blueger<\/a> suffered a knee injury in the same game and has yet to return from another injury that morphed into greater concerns.<\/p>\n Add Pius Suter<\/a> leaving in free agency and it became a riddle in the middle to fill the voids.<\/p>\n The Canucks were hopeful Pettersson would practise Wednesday after missing two games with an upper-body ailment. He skated on his own earlier in the day, but is unlikely to face the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at Rogers Arena<\/a>. He will join the five-game, nine-day road trip that opens Sunday with a matinee in New Jersey.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Pettersson is tied for the team lead in scoring with 22 points (8-14) in 28 games. He has one goal in his last six outings, but before that had a run of a dozen points (4-8) in nine games. He also leads all NHL forwards with 51 blocked shots, and it will be interesting if he will maintain that bravado after the ailment rehab.<\/p>\n The injury could also affect the mechanics of his shot and a compete level because he\u2019s not afraid to throw a hit or take one.<\/p>\n In the interim, it\u2019s David Kampf, who would be a third-line centre on a good and healthy team, between Brock Boeser<\/a> and Conor Garland<\/a> on Thursday. O\u2019Connor will centre Evander Kane and Kiefer Sherwood, quite the change from being a big grinding winger with offensive potential<\/p>\n Ben ponders in his story how things got so dire, so quickly. They\u2019ve been searching for another centre for nearly a year now without any reward and Ben explored how quickly the team had fallen.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Vancouver Canucks<\/a> had an enviable deployment of J.T. Miller<\/a>, Pettersson and Bo Horvat. Noodle on that in considering the current plight of centre ice by committee \u2014 grinding winger Drew O\u2019Connor has gone from wing to the middle \u2014 amid injury setbacks for the last-place club.<\/p>\n The Miller-Pettersson-Horvat triumvirate was instrumental in a memorable COVID-paused 2019-20 season after the Canucks advanced to the Edmonton playoff bubble tournament experience by points percentage. They combined for 48 points (23-25) in 17 games, and Horvat struck for 10 goals.<\/p>\n The Canucks won a qualifying round over the Minnesota Wild, took out the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, and almost advanced to the Western Conference final in a sensational seven-game slog against the Vegas Golden Knights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n And yet, here we are at the end of 2025, 25 points from 30 games and last place in the NHL.<\/p>\n OK, let\u2019s cheer everyone up with more Quinn Hughes<\/a> news! Apparently, according to Mike Johnson of TSN<\/a>, there\u2019s a 95 per cent chance Hughes will leave the Canucks. And \u2026 Brad Marchand agrees!<\/a><\/p>\n The debate took an unexpected turn after TSN shared Johnson\u2019s take in an Instagram post, prompting Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand to publicly react to Johnson\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your two bros were locked up on the same team \u2026 where would you sign \u2026 little common sense here,\u201d Marchand wrote.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no way around it, as all the big hockey media goes in on trade rumours, until something definitive happens he will lead their reports as there\u2019s little else to choose other than Hughes news<\/a>. ESPN looks at the whole trade market, and yep, Hughes is the lead.<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Quinn Hughes<\/a> rumour mill is spinning like a centrifuge, mostly because the Canucks are a major disappointment and have signalled that they\u2019re looking to reshape their roster. But that\u2019s just the match that lit the powder keg.<\/p>\n Speculation that Hughes will be traded before his contract ($7.85 million US average annual value) is up in summer 2027 has increased since team president Jim Rutherford said the defenceman \u201cwants to play with his brothers,\u201d Jack and Luke of the New Jersey Devils.<\/p>\n Quinn Hughes didn\u2019t help quiet matters when he referred to Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald as \u201cFitzy\u201d in a recent interview. Granted, Fitzgerald is part of the management team for Team USA, on which Quinn Hughes will play in the 2026 Winter Olympics. It\u2019s also what his brothers call their boss. But that colloquialism didn\u2019t help the mood of Canucks fans preparing for the inevitable.<\/p>\n Advertisement 9<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Hughes, 26, is one of the two best defencemen in the NHL along with Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. Since 2022, he\u2019s first in assists (224 in 253 games) and second in points (266) behind Makar (284) among NHL defencemen. Vancouver can\u2019t afford to botch this.<\/p>\n The Quinn Hughes situation will likely play out in one of four ways:<\/p>\n 1. He declares his everlasting love for the Canucks and fealty to the Aquilini family by signing a contract extension to see this thing through in Vancouver. This is the unlikeliest scenario.<\/p>\n 2. Rutherford\u2019s declaration proves prophetic as the Canucks trade Hughes to New Jersey for a package that includes 21-year-old defenceman Simon Nemec. Quinn Hughes signs an extension that keeps him with the Devils through the 2031-32 season, when Luke Hughes can become an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n Advertisement 10<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n I think the Canucks\u2019 actual target on the Devils is 26-year-old captain Nico Hischier, but it\u2019s hard to imagine New Jersey gutting its depth like that considering how much time No. 1 centre Jack Hughes has missed on an annual basis. If the Devils were to trade Hischier, they\u2019d spend the rest of Quinn Hughes\u2019 time in New Jersey looking for a player like Nico Hischier. If that\u2019s the only way the Canucks will send them Quinn Hughes, why not just wait it out until he can join a Nico Hischier team? Speaking of which \u2026<\/p>\n 3. Quinn Hughes plays out the next two seasons in Vancouver as a lame-duck captain before leaving as an unrestricted free agent in summer 2027, most likely to New Jersey. It\u2019s hard to imagine Vancouver would take this option rather than trading him.<\/p>\n Advertisement 11<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n 4. The Canucks acknowledge the Quinn Hughes era in Vancouver is essentially done, maximize their trade return with contract terms left on his deal, and send him somewhere that gets Vancouver more positionally specific help than New Jersey can ante up.<\/p>\n The word out of Vancouver is that GM Patrik Allvin is seeking young players up front who can help the team immediately, with an emphasis on the centre spot. How many teams would offer that up for two playoff runs with Quinn Hughes, plus the possibility of persuading him to stay long term? Or failing that, have him for the rest of this season before trading him to the Devils themselves?<\/p>\n In this scenario, the Detroit Red Wings are the team that has immediately leaped to many minds. They have 21-year-old Marco Kasper, selected eighth in the 2022 draft. He\u2019s struggling to find his game in the NHL but has a world of potential and over 100 games of experience. They also have 21-year-old Nate Danielson, selected ninth in 2023 and playing his rookie season for Detroit. The Red Wings also have players such as 22-year-old defenceman Simon Edvinsson they could offer to Vancouver.<\/p>\n Advertisement 12<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Detroit also has the potential to keep Quinn Hughes beyond 2027. Captain Dylan Larkin is a friend. The Hughes family put roots down in Michigan around seven years ago. The idea that Quinn could sign with Detroit and Jack could join him as a free agent in 2030 has wormed its way into the collective hockey consciousness online.<\/p>\n The Philadelphia Flyers have a personal connection to Quinn Hughes with beloved former coach Rick Tocchet<\/a> behind their bench. The New York Rangers have desperate needs on their blue line and some good young forwards who might attract the Canucks. Could the Anaheim Ducks package some of their young standouts for Quinn Hughes, assuming the Canucks would ever trade him within their division? Can we ever really count out teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars in a situation like this, given how aggressive they\u2019ve both been in pursuit of a Stanley Cup?<\/p>\n Advertisement 13<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n One team getting a ton of buzz this week is Washington. Rachel Kryshak, who writes about prospects for ESPN, speculated that the Capitals could add Quinn Hughes to \u201cgo for it\u201d with Alex Ovechkin before rebuilding in the post-Ovi years. She believes centre Connor McMichael or winger Ryan Leonard could entice Vancouver to make that deal.<\/p>\n Around the NHL, the consensus remains that Quinn Hughes will end up playing with Jack and Luke. It\u2019s the \u201cwhen and where?\u201d that is the perplexing part.\u00a0<\/p>\n And of course, the Canucks have more content on there, though it\u2019s strange that ESPN considers Evander Kane to be \u2018elite\u2019.<\/p>\n Elite pending free agent tier Advertisement 14<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Canucks alerted the rest of the NHL recently that they\u2019re willing to trade any of their pending free agents. Kane ($5.125 million, 16-team no-trade list) has only five goals in 29 games.\u00a0<\/p>\n More Eliteness! Garland! Myers! With all these \u2018elite\u2019 players you\u2019d think the Canucks would be doing better in the standings. Advertisement 15<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Depending on how deep the roster reconfiguring goes in Vancouver, Garland and Myers could be part of it. Garland hasn\u2019t even started his six-year, $36 million extension he signed in July. He has 15 points in 24 games for Vancouver. Myers is signed through next season with a minuscule $3 million annual cap hit but has a no-movement clause that he\u2019s reportedly not keen on waiving. One wonders if that would include a potential trade to the Flyers and a reunion with former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet<\/a>.<\/p>\n And yes, everything must go! Lots of Canucks content in the bargain basement bin.<\/p>\n Bargain beauty contracts tier Advertisement 16<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n All the players in this tier make $2 million against the cap or less.<\/p>\n For a minute there, Sherwood was one of the most coveted goal scorers in the NHL, with 12 goals in 20 games. That he then went the next 10 games without a goal shouldn\u2019t discourage teams from seeking his services: He\u2019s a hard-nosed competitor who plays physical and, as he\u2019s shown this season, can put the puck in the net. Better still, he\u2019s on an expiring contract with a $1.5 million AAV whose salary is below that ($1.3 million).<\/p>\n The Athletic reported that Vancouver is seeking \u201ca good roster player and have also asked teams for a first-round pick.\u201d<\/p>\n Blueger ($1.8 million) is another Canucks UFA potentially on the move. Reichel ($1.2 million) is an RFA next summer, having been acquired from Chicago in October. Things have not worked out: he\u2019s been a healthy scratch with coach Adam Foote declaring, \u201cWe think there\u2019s players right now slightly ahead of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 17<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n But at this point, they\u2019re all rumours. And based on the lack of player movement in the NHL over the last year under the rising salary cap, how many of these names actually change uniforms is anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, it\u2019s so quiet right now. It sucks,\u201d an NHL executive concluded.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Here\u2019s some more fun Canucks content, the Athletic does a ranking of the worst GMs in NHL history to keep their job for five years at least. In typical Canucks fashion, they don\u2019t get the top prize, but they DO finish second<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Jim Benning, Canucks Fired: December 2021<\/p>\n In between: The Canucks made the playoffs in Benning\u2019s first year, with a roster still mostly built by former GM Mike Gillis. They made it again in the 24-team bubble year. In the other five years, they finished under .500.<\/p>\n Advertisement 18<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Signature move: His best and arguably biggest move was trading for J.T. Miller<\/a>. But in general, the Benning era was known for disappointing drafts and the constant promise that the team didn\u2019t need to rebuild because they were almost there. They were not.<\/p>\n Bottom line: Every Canucks fan right now is going \u201cWait, Benning wasn\u2019t first?\u201d But then they remembered the one name we haven\u2019t mentioned yet \u2026<\/p>\n All you can say to that is Thank You Jim.<\/p>\n Yes, if you\u2019re wondering the worst is Islanders GM Mike Milbury, who famously traded away a young Roberto Luongo, but also sent Todd Bertuzzi and Bryan McCabe and picks to Vancouver for Trevor Linden. Linden was a big piece to move, but Bertuzzi was a staple and McCabe was used to bring engineer the trade that brought both Sedins to Vancouver.<\/p>\n Advertisement 19<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Canucks official website has some interesting nuggets<\/a> for tonight\u2019s game.<\/p>\n Tonight marks the first of two meetings between the Canucks and Sabres this season: Dec. 11 (home) and Jan. 6 (road). Quinn Hughes has 12 points (1-11-12) in his last 12 games. Read More<\/p>\n Canucks: When Elias Pettersson returns from injury, can he shoulder the load?<\/p>\n![\"canucks\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765493288_130_1129-col-pj-1.jpg\")
Quinn Hughes has always placed the team ahead of his personal goals, but the time is now to take stock of his professional future. Photo by Bruce Bennett \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.1.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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It\u2019s been a while since Canucks wingers Kiefer Sherwood and Brock Boeser have had goals to celebrate. Photo by Bruce Bennett \/Getty ImagesRiddle in the middle awaits Pettersson\u2019s return<\/p>\n
Rasmus Andersson, D, Calgary Flames<\/a>
Mario Ferraro, D, San Jose Sharks
Jordan Eberle, RW, Seattle Kraken
Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Evander Kane, LW, Vancouver Canucks<\/a>
Mason Marchment, F, Seattle Kraken
Nick Schmaltz, C Utah Mammoth
Jaden Schwartz, F, Seattle Kraken
Alex Tuch, RW, Buffalo Sabres<\/p>\n
Elite players with term tier
Phillip Danault, C, Los Angeles Kings
Justin Faulk, D, St. Louis Blues
Conor Garland<\/a>, RW, Vancouver Canucks
Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames<\/a>
Jonathan Marchessault, C, Nashville Predators
Tyler Myers<\/a>, D, Vancouver Canucks
Ryan O\u2019Reilly, C, Nashville Predators
Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues
Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators
Owen Tippett, RW, Philadelphia Flyers
Pavel Zacha, C, Boston Bruins<\/p>\n
Teddy Blueger<\/a>, C, Vancouver Canucks
Erik Gustafsson, D, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Lomberg, LW, Calgary Flames
Lukas Reichel, LW, Vancouver Canucks
Kiefer Sherwood, F, Vancouver Canucks
Kevin Stenlund, C, Utah Mammoth
Oskar Sundqvist, C, St. Louis Blues<\/p>\n
Hired: May 2014<\/p>\n
Vancouver is 59-50-19-4 all-time against Buffalo, including a 34-20-11-1 record at home.
The Canucks are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games against the Sabres (4-1-0 in their last five).
Jake DeBrusk leads all active Canucks skaters in scoring against Buffalo with 19 points (7-12-19) in 29 career games.
In 26 career games against the Sabres, Evander Kane has 11 points (2-9-11).
Conor Garland has 10 points (5-5-10) in 11 career games against Buffalo.
In 13 career games against the Sabres, Brock Boeser has 10 points (3-7-10).
Thatcher Demko<\/a> holds a 3-3-1 record with a 3.13 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage in seven career games against Buffalo.
Kevin Lankinen is 1-1-0 with a 4.40 goals-against average and an .873 save percentage in two career games against the Sabres.
Nikita Tolopilo has yet to appear in a game against Buffalo in his career.
QUICK NUMBERS<\/p>\n
Conor Garland has four points (3-1-4) in his last three games against the Sabres.
Kiefer Sherwood recorded 10 hits on Dec. 8\/25 vs DET, the tied for the third-highest single-game total of his career.
Check back for more Canucks news throughout the day \u2026<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2242031314_299391746-e1760897754227.jpg\")
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