The Vancouver Canucks are navigating the seismic aftermath of trading franchise cornerstone Quinn Hughes, a move that has sent shockwaves through the NHL and fundamentally altered the team's trajectory. As the dust settles, new details emerge about President Jim Rutherford's central role, the long-term strategy behind the deal, and what potential moves could follow as the team embraces a full-scale rebuild.
Rutherford Takes the Helm on Franchise-Altering Trade
In a revealing interview, Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford confirmed that team ownership was fully supportive of the difficult decision to trade Quinn Hughes. The trade, which sent the star defenceman to the Minnesota Wild, netted Vancouver a first-round pick and three young NHL-ready prospects: forwards Liam Ohgren and Marco Rossi, along with defenceman Zeev Buium. This haul has been largely applauded by a fan base known for its skepticism, with an informal poll showing 70% of fans giving the trade an 'A' grade.
Perhaps the most intriguing detail was Rutherford's admission that General Manager Patrick Allvin, feeling overwhelmed, asked the veteran executive to take the lead in fielding trade offers for Hughes. "Rutherford said Allvin asked him to take the lead on fielding trade offers, as the general manager 'had a lot on his plate,'" the report noted, a decision that places the monumental transaction squarely on Rutherford's shoulders.
The Path to the Trade: A Series of Missteps
To understand why Hughes is no longer a Canuck, one must look back at a series of organizational decisions that depleted the team's prospect pool and created internal discord. The exodus began in May 2020 when then-GM Jim Benning parted ways with highly-regarded amateur scouting director Judd Brackett, who later joined the Minnesota Wild. Brackett, who had advocated for drafting Hughes in 2018, proceeded to help build the Wild's prospect base—the very pool Vancouver would tap into for this trade.
The subsequent five Canucks drafts after Brackett's departure yielded only one player with more than 50 NHL games: defenceman Elias Pettersson, selected 80th overall in 2022. Meanwhile, veteran contracts created friction. The seven-year, $56 million deal for J.T. Miller in September 2022 chose him over pending free agent Bo Horvat, exacerbating reported personal issues between Miller and star centre Elias Pettersson. Miller was eventually traded to the New York Rangers in January 2025.
Further confusing moves for a team trending toward a rebuild included extending 30-year-old goalie Thatcher Demko and 29-year-old winger Conor Garland, while also re-signing Brock Boeser to a long-term deal with a no-movement clause. The coaching change from Rick Tocchet to defence-focused assistant Adam Foote was widely seen as a last-ditch effort to appease Hughes.
Future Outlook: More Moves on the Horizon?
Despite the painful departure of Hughes, the trade has instantly revitalized the Canucks' future prospect ranking. The addition of Ohgren, Rossi, and Buium joins a group featuring Tom Willander, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes. Cootes, in particular, is trending toward being an NHL player as a teenager next season after a strong WHL campaign and an invitation to Canada's World Junior camp.
However, the rebuild may just be beginning. Former Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau speculated that the team could enter a full sell-off mode, suggesting Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland, and even Elias Pettersson could be moved. "I don't think they are going anywhere as the team they are now," Boudreau told TSN. He pointed out that a healthy Demko could fetch a significant return for a contender at the trade deadline, and Garland's style is suited for playoff hockey.
As the Canucks take the ice for their next game—a matchup against the New York Rangers on Tuesday, December 16, 2025—the focus has undeniably shifted. The question is no longer about salvaging a playoff spot but about how quickly and effectively Rutherford and Allvin can execute the next phases of their rebuild, leveraging newly acquired assets and potentially creating more. The Hughes era is over, and a new, uncertain chapter for Vancouver hockey is underway.
