Major Trade Proposal Has Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes Joining His Brothers on the Devils

13 months ago, the Vancouver Canucks fell in seven games to the Edmonton Oilers the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs and in the time since, it's felt like the organization has flipped upside down.

The Canucks missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, dealt with drama off the ice, injuries and trade rumors surrounding some of their biggest stars, including captain Quinn Hughes, who is two years away from unrestricted free agency and the team knows there's a chance he could leave.

During his press conference back in April, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford shared that Quinn Hughes has expressed a desire to play with his brothers Jack and Luke at some point during his career in the National Hockey League.

If Quinn Hughes doesn't believe that he can win with the Vancouver Canucks and there isn't any progress on an extension when he becomes eligible on July 1st, 2026, Rutherford admitted that they may have to move their captain to avoid losing him for nothing as an unrestricted free agent in two summers from now.

Ever since these comments from Jim Rutherford, rumors have been swirling about the possibility of uniting the Hughes brothers in New Jersey and a new trade proposal has emerged that would see that become a reality.

In a post on Instagram, Just_In.Sports shared their trade proposal that would send Quinn Hughes to the New Jersey Devils.

In exchange for Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks could receive defenseman Dougie Hamilton, former second overall pick Simon Nemec, forward Dawson Mercer, along with two first round picks - 2026 & 2027.

While the Vancouver Canucks want to do whatever it takes to lock up Quinn Hughes long-term, if Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford were presented with an offer like the one above for their captain, they absolutely would need to think long and hard about it.

Dougie Hamilton would immediately slot into Vancouver's top-four, while Simon Nemec, who was selected one pick after Juraj Slafkovsky in 2022, could easily do the same as early as next season.

23-year-old Dawson Mercer would help alleviate the team's need for a second line centerman, a role he'd be more than comfortable playing in Vancouver after setting a new career-high in average ice time this season at 17:53.

When it comes to the two first round picks the team would receive in this proposal, it would give Patrik Allvin a couple more trade chips that he could use leading up to next season's deadline to make a big splash, if the Canucks are in the mix for a playoff spot.

The Canucks are still a little ways away from needing to make a decision on the future of captain Quinn Hughes, but fans are hoping that when the clock strikes 9 am PT on July 1st, 2026, they'll be announcing a long-term extension for the blueliner.