September 3, 2025 | 10:23am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

HUGHES IS NOT THINKING ABOUT NEXT CONTRACT

Quinn Hughes, defenceman

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is itching to get back to the ice and get the 2025-26 season underway.

Back in Vancouver and skating in preparation for training camp that gets going in two weeks.

Hughes, who turns 26 next month, is in the fifth year of a six-year, $47.1 million contract and is not eligible to sign an extension until July 1, 2026.

Still, speculation over his future with the Canucks have run wild over the last year, with rumours floating around that he may want to leave the team if they are not competitive.

In an interview with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre on Tuesday, Hughes indicated he has not thought about his long-term future and is focused on the upcoming season.

“One thing I’m really good at – or have gotten good at – is I’m very present. I can’t even sign for another year, so there’s nothing I can do. As far as the noise (about his future), I can handle the noise. That’s why I’m the captain of the team, because I can handle these things and I can play at an elite level and it doesn’t matter what’s going on around me.

“And as far as the noise around my teammates, I’m going to try to help everyone else, too, and be as good a leader as I can be. Noise doesn’t bother me. It’s a long year, and I’m just going to be day-to-day and focus on the short term. That’s the truth, honestly.”

Hughes, winner of the 2024 Norris Trophy, will surely command an eight-figure annual salary on his next contract, but how high that number is depends on his play this season.

“Every year brings its different challenges,” he said. “Two of my best buddies (Conor Garland and Brock Boeser) just signed in Vancouver long-term. I will say last year was not fun; it just wasn’t. But I’m a really competitive guy ... and last year was a failure, so I’m trying to bring my best. Try to be a great leader and help my team get in the playoffs. Who knows what we can do and who knows how I’ll be feeling this time next year? It’s still a year away.”