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Vancouver Canucks Gain Major Leverage in Quinn Hughes Contract Negotiations
Photo credit: NHL
Vancouver Canucks reportedly have leverage to get a contract extension done with their captain, Quinn Hughes before the NHL's new CBA kicks in next September.
Quinn Hughes has been mentioned in trade rumors for the last couple of months now ever since Jim Rutherford made a comment about his team's captain wanting to play with his brothers Jack and Luke of the New Jersey Devils at some point in his career.
"It may not boil down to money with [Quinn]. He said before he wants to play with his brothers. That would be partly out of our control. In our control if we brought his brothers here." Rutherford said.
While a trade, understandably, could happen at some point between now and the deadline during the 2026-27 season if the two sides are unable to come to an agreement on a new deal, the Canucks' priority is to lock up their captain long-term and could have a bit of leverage to do so before the league's new CBA kicks in September 2026.
Vancouver Canucks may have leverage to get Quinn Hughes extension completed
In a recent article on The Athletic, Thomas Drance talked about an extension for Quinn Hughes and mentioned that the National Hockey League's new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which features changes to maximum length to contract, could help the Vancouver Canucks speed things along over the next 14 months.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which kicks in on September 15th, 2026, says that from that date onwards, players can only sign for a maximum of seven years with their current club (before July 1st if they're set to become a UFA), or six years on the open market.
Because of this, the Vancouver Canucks could benefit over the next year and a bit if they're able to work out an eight year contract with Quinn Hughes, before that length becomes extinct.
"Next summer, for example, when Hughes becomes extension eligible, initial contract talks between the club and his camp will be governed by the previous (current) CBA. Until mid-September 2026, effectively, Vancouver will be able to offer Hughes an eight-year extension. Once that deadline passes, however, Hughes' next deal will be governed by the rules of the next CBA, limiting him to just a seven-year max term." Drance said.
When it comes to Quinn Hughes' next contract, with the NHL's salary cap set to explode in the years ahead, Hughes could be looking at a contract with an average annual value (AAV) potentially as high as $13-$13.5 million, maybe more, however that's just a guess based on his talent level and what he brings to a team as a top-three defenseman in the entire league.
Source: Thomas Drance/The Athletic
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| POLL | ||
JUILLET 16 | 2325 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Gain Major Leverage in Quinn Hughes Contract Negotiations Will the Vancouver Canucks sign Quinn Hughes to an eight-year extension before September 2026? | ||
| Yes | 1523 | 65.5 % |
| No | 802 | 34.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
