New Reports Signal the Vancouver Canucks Are Nearing a Franchise-Shifting Decision
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images
A new report this week indicates that the Vancouver Canucks may have no choice but to enter a rebuild depending on whether or not Quinn Hughes will stick around.
For at least the last few weeks, rebuilding has been a hot topic in Vancouver among the team's fanbase with many believing it's time to start thinking about one as the club is at risk of missing out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
The rebuild topic has even been brought up to General Manager Patrik Allvin and President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford, but both have brushed it aside and don't believe it's necessary right now.
"Well I don't think you can do that when you have good players in Quinn Hughes, Demko, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and then the next wave of young players in Willander Pettersson, Mancini, Lekkerimäki." Allvin said when discussing a potential rebuild.
Meanwhile Rutherford said, "Rebuilds can work. But you have to understand rebuilds take a long time. There has to be a lot of patience, and for the teams that take the biggest jump and ultimately rebuild and win a Cup, they usually have a first-overall pick. And you still have to get lucky on that. I'm not naming teams, but some have tried a rebuild and had a ton of draft picks that didn't turn out. So a rebuild is not something that we're going to look at doing. Like I said, we're in transition. But we're not trading all these players for draft picks that may or may not end up playing someday."
Meanwhile Rutherford said, "Rebuilds can work. But you have to understand rebuilds take a long time. There has to be a lot of patience, and for the teams that take the biggest jump and ultimately rebuild and win a Cup, they usually have a first-overall pick. And you still have to get lucky on that. I'm not naming teams, but some have tried a rebuild and had a ton of draft picks that didn't turn out. So a rebuild is not something that we're going to look at doing. Like I said, we're in transition. But we're not trading all these players for draft picks that may or may not end up playing someday."
New report indicates Vancouver Canucks may need to seriously consider rebuild
In a recent article for The Globe and Mail, Gary Mason said that he believes that with this season having the potential to be another lost year for the club, they need to figure out whether or not they have a legit chance at keeping Quinn Hughes around long-term.
Mason went on to add that if Quinn Hughes doesn't plan on sticking around beyond next season, then the Vancouver Canucks need to deal him sooner rather than later so they can get on with a potential rebuild.
"If it appears at some point this is shaping up to be another lost season, then management is going to need to know what the prospects of keeping Hughes are. If they're not great, then the sooner they deal him the better. Perhaps then they can get on with the rebuild for which their fanbase appears so eager." Mason said.
Whether it's leading up to the trade deadline in March or over the summer, if the Vancouver Canucks feel like they have no chance of keeping their captain, they have to pull the trigger on a deal and with Hughes not having any trade protection whatsoever, it works out in the team's favour as they can send him to whoever submits the best proposal rather than where he personally wants to go.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 19 | 1127 ANSWERS New Reports Signal the Vancouver Canucks Are Nearing a Franchise-Shifting Decision Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will enter a rebuild following the 2025-26 season? | ||
| Yes | 539 | 47.8 % |
| No | 588 | 52.2 % |
| List of polls | ||