Jim Rutherford Opens Up Bluntly About Quinn Hughes' Future & How Important This Season Truly Is

The Vancouver Canucks fan base has had to hear rumors all summer long regarding their captain, Quinn Hughes, as he's less than two years away from becoming an unrestricted free agent and on Canada Day 2026, he can put pen-to-paper on a contract extension.

While no one knows what will happen over the next 12-to-18 months, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford helped ignite those rumors with his comments back in April that Hughes has expressed a desire to suit up at some point in his NHL career with his brothers Luke and Jack, both of whom are members of the New Jersey Devils.

Ever since, it's been a fire storm of rumors, with some linking him with a trade to the New Jersey Devils, or even the Detroit Red Wings, and while Quinn Hughes isn't bothered by the outside noise, the Canucks would certainly like things to quite down as the season begins and one way to do that is to go out there and get off to a hot start.

As he has multiple times throughout the offseason, Jim Rutherford spoke about Quinn Hughes' future with the club, this time while making an appearance on 100% Hockey with Darren Millard and John Shannon.

Rutherford told Millard and Shannon that sometimes he gets in trouble a bit for getting too honest about the situation, but added that it's an important topic and it's going to be talked about for quite some time, right up until Hughes puts pen-to-paper on a new deal.

He went on to add that he believes that it's important to show Quinn Hughes that the organization is heading in the right direction and are working their way towards not only being a contender for a playoff spot each year, but that they can make a push for a Stanley Cup with the core they currently have.

Beyond that, Rutherford said that he thinks the roster has improved when compared to last season, especially with the addition of Evander Kane, which should help them in their goal of reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs next spring.

Hopefully that comes to fruition - the Vancouver Canucks make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, perhaps even win a round or two, as that would go a long way in showing Quinn Hughes that the organization is serious about winning now and in the future.

Source: 100% Canucks
Jim Rutherford on Quinn Hughes, Canucks' Roster & Season Expectations