Drama Doesn’t End In Vancouver, Even After Quinn Hughes Trade

Oddly, I’m glad to see the Vancouver Canucks’ captain Quinn Hughes go.

That probably sounds unfeeling. But Hughes was special. No other way to put it. He thought the game faster than most, moved like he never got tired, and always seemed in control. Watching him, you got the sense he had a motor that didn’t stop. Shift after shift—overtime after overtime.

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The Writing Was on the Wall in Vancouver for A While

This trade doesn’t tell us anything new about Hughes. It tells us what we already knew about Canucks management: it’s a mess. They had a franchise defenceman—good enough that Minnesota was willing to move the equivalent of four first-round picks. You get the sense that, almost until the end, Hughes wanted to stay in Vancouver. Still, the organization found a way to let him go that felt inevitable.

Yes, Hughes probably wanted to play with his brothers at some level. Of course he did. But wanting something and being driven out by dysfunction aren’t the same thing. Hughes gave Vancouver his best seasons as captain. He carried himself like a pro. If the team didn’t get where it wanted to go, that’s not on him.

The Fingers Point Back to the Canucks’ Management

That trail leads straight back to management. It’s a management team where there’s no clear leader. Most people know Rutherford is calling the shots, but he’s technically not supposed to be. Patrik Allvin is the general manager, one who doesn’t seem to do much general managing.

This is the same group that left Bruce Boudreau hanging in public, stripped of dignity while still behind the bench. The same group that let the J.T. Miller–Elias Pettersson situation simmer into something awkward and unresolved. Say what you want about Rick Tocchet being a straight shooter—if this was fixable, why wasn’t it fixed?

Rutherford, in particular, has made one puzzling decision after another. After how the Boudreau situation was handled, it’s hard to believe there’s much sensitivity to what players are actually experiencing. That matters to a team in a city. Culture is a real thing that players feel every day.

I Wish Hughes Good Luck with the Wild

So now Hughes is gone, and for his sake, I’m glad. He gets a fresh start. He gets to play without the incessant turmoil. The Canucks get draft capital and another spin of the wheel.

If you’re a youngster looking for a home, Vancouver is a beautiful city in which to live. Alex Edler came to British Columbia 20 years ago from Sweden and became part of the community. He even won the King Clancey Award for community service and signed a one-day contract to retire as a Canucks icon. He still lives there with his family.

Hughes Is Must-See Hockey, Even If He’s Not in Vancouver

As for me? I’ll be watching Minnesota more closely now. Hughes was must-see hockey, and he still is.

But here’s where this story slides over into the dark side. I don’t expect much to shift in Vancouver while the current management remains in charge. What’s missing is someone calm enough to slow things down and decent enough to know when to stop.

Who’s the next captain? Probably Elias Pettersson. But, if it were up to me, maybe Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Myers, or Connor Garland. These guys play like someone who understands responsibility. But really, who knows?

And that’s the problem with the Canucks. Who knows what they are anymore?

Related: Did the Quinn Hughes Trade Make Minnesota a Cup Favourite?