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What the Canucks do next will change how we view the Quinn Hughes trade: Canucks Conversation
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Clarke Corsan
Dec 16, 2025, 14:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 16, 2025, 12:55 EST
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On Monday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal discussed how the Vancouver Canucks’ next moves will ultimately determine how the Quinn Hughes trade is judged, and whether the organization truly follows through on the rebuild it’s outlined.
Quads framed the conversation around timeline and intent. In his view, the Canucks don’t need to disappear for the better part of a decade if they’re disciplined about the process.
“A rebuild for this team doesn’t have to take six or eight years; it could be two or three,” Quads said. “Two or three years of pain, and by year three or four, you’re a competitive team again. That’s very possible with the timeline, and step one was nailing the Quinn Hughes trade. For the most part, we’ve agreed they’ve basically done that. The next part is: what now? If Hughes wasn’t enough to win you a Cup, guess what? Zeev Buium alone isn’t enough to win you a Cup. It’s going to take that top-five pick you need to go get this year. And even that, that might not be enough. Maybe another bottom-five finish or two and hitting on those high picks are required.”
For Quads, the danger is rushing the process and settling back into mediocrity.
“You add those pieces [multiple high draft picks] with Buium, Rossi, Cootes, all your other young pieces, and maybe that’s enough,” he said. “You don’t execute these rebuilds to get back to where you were in the mushy middle, so the concern for me becomes how fast will they try to accelerate out of this rebuild phase?”
Harm agreed that a rebuild doesn’t need to last seven years, but he was far more cautious about how quickly things can realistically turn around.
“I agree it doesn’t have to take five to seven years, but two years to me is very optimistic,” Harm said. “It depends what your definition of ‘turning it around’ is.”
Harm pointed to teams like San Jose or Chicago as examples of what a reasonable early stage might look like: competitive games, some buzz, but not true contention. Where he worried was in expecting a rapid leap into the upper tier of the league.
“The only way you’re going to have a quick turnaround matching that timeline is if you get two immediate superstars,” Harm said. “The chances of getting a player and them being a superstar are usually slim.”
He cautioned against assuming recent draft success stories are the norm.
“In 2023, we were spoiled with Bedard, Carlsson, and Fantilli, who were instant stars,” Harm said. “But you go back further and you see the drop-off. Even the idea of drafting top five this year and next, adding that to what you have in your pipeline, I don’t think that’s going to be enough. You need a lot more than just two years near the top of the draft. How many times did the Canucks draft in the top ten to get to the point where they had Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson, and Quinn Hughes?”
The discussion then shifted to roster decisions around veterans. Quads questioned whether keeping players nearing 30 aligns with a true rebuild.
“Management also needs to think long and hard about moving the guys who are in their late 20s,” Quads said. “Guys who are about to be 30 – do you want to keep those guys? I don’t think that should be part of the plan.”
Harm echoed that concern, particularly when listening to how management has talked about age and timelines.
“I get a bit nervous when Rutherford refers to some of these guys as ‘not that old,’” Harm said. “For them to fit the timeline of the next competitive Canucks team, you’d have to be banking on a quick turnaround, which sounds a lot like betting on being lucky. Luck isn’t a plan. I have no problem if this organization says, ‘We’re entering a rebuild, we’re hopeful it won’t take five or six years, but we’re prepared to do what it takes to assemble an elite young core without taking shortcuts.’ I would buy that.”
The Quinn Hughes trade may look solid on its own, but it’s the patience and discipline that follow that will decide whether it truly sets the Canucks up for something better.
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