Ek’s Note: I am still working the phones tonight and will be tomorrow morning as well, so I wanted to post this really great article that our NJ Devils Writer Chris Shaleesh posted to give you the New Jersey perspective on these surprising happenings….If you missed the Canuck’s press conference.. the clip below is what everybody’s talking about..
HUGE NEWS ON HUGHES: Devils Need To Be In It To “Quinn It.”
I hate to say “I told ya so,” but I told ya so! In February I posted a blog titled Hughes Heard It Here First: With Canucks Closer To Collapse Than Cup, Can Quinn Complete The Natural (Hughes) Hat Trick For New Jersey? Now, just two months later we are starting to see the manifestation play itself out.
In what may be the Devils only win this postseason, President of Hockey Operations for the Vancouver Canucks has begun his concession speech. A half white flag waving Jim Rutherford stated in his exit interview on Monday that Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes (not surprisingly) wants to play with his brothers.
“It may not boil down to money with him,” Rutherford said. “He has said before he wants to play with his brothers. That would be partly out of our control. In our control would be if we brought his brothers here. ... This franchise cannot afford to lose a guy like Quinn Hughes. We will do everything we can to keep him here. At the end of the day, it will be his decision.”
WOW! What a quote from a dejected looking Rutherford who was visibly uncomfortable during the presser. With the hot seat getting hotter and hotter and no solutions in sight, can you really blame him?
You almost have to feel bad for Rutherford (who may have to answer to some tampering allegations after Monday’s remarks) and GM Patrik Allvin. Just a few years ago Vancouver seemed a lock for perennial playoff contention, with a budding star in Quinn, and JT Miller and Elias Pettersson signed to long term deals, it was rainbows and butterflies in British Columbia. However struggling stars and locker room rifts have lead to a rapid deterioration of a once presumed, solid core. With Miller now a member of the New York Rangers, Pettersson’s 100+ point season seemingly an anomaly, a head coaching vacancy and Brock Boeser already one foot out of the door in free agency, the Canucks can ill afford losing their beloved captain with no return when he becomes a UFA in 2027.
There’s No Better Time Than Now
For both Vancouver and New Jersey it would be best to get a deal done this summer for many reasons.
First off this rumor being out is already a distraction not only to the Canucks and their fans, who now know their remaining days with the dynamic defender are limited, but New Jersey as well. In the Devils case it’s always a little difficult performing to your fullest when a trade is imminent. Unfortunately the Devils still have to give to get, but the loose lips of Jim Rutherford have sunk ships, and we should expect a bit of a steal here considering all other teams now know they won’t be able to sign #43 when his contract expires. I hate to speculate at this point but obviously Dougie Hamilton and or Simone Nemec are two trade chips that come to mind immediately. We will save the mock trades for a later date. Well at least I will but I’m sure the comments will be flooded with them. Let me hear em’!
Rip The Band-Aid Off Now
From a Canucks point of view, wouldn’t it be best to just obtain your new players and work towards the future? Offseason rankings will have this team miles away from a playoff spot when Vegas Odds come out this summer, and that’s with Hughes still on the roster. Trade him now, get your new players, prospects and picks and move on. Rip that Band-Aid off quickly, it only hurts for a second.
From a Devils point of view, let’s stop wasting time here. While Getting Quinn at 27 is amazing, getting him at 25 is even better. This team clearly needs an upgrade in personnel and can’t afford to throw away two more years of the young core while being in “wait” mode. As Benjamin Franklin said “never leave that to tomorrow which you can do today.”
In the end Jack and Luke here in “dis-location” (shoulders and or New Jersey) and Quinn in “dat location” (Vancouver) isn’t going to work anymore. Unite the brothers and set the hockey world on fire!
PS:
I will be curious to see if GM Tom Fitzgerald makes a play for Quinn Hughes bestie and UFA, Brock Boeser. The big winger just two years removed from a 40 goal season could fill a secondary scoring void that will desperately need to be addressed this summer. Critics might say his skating doesn’t fit the Devils style of play, and that might be true. However, the same was said of Tyler Toffoli who was very good for NJ last season and whose production has not been replaced to date.
Oh yea, there’s a HUGE GAME TOMORROW TOO! LGD!
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