On December 4th, 2023, brothers Luke, Jack, and Quinn Hughes played in the same arena for the first time since each had made it to the NHL. Luke and Jack, who were playing together with the NJ Devils, were competing against Quinn and the Vancouver Canucks.
"Of course, you dream you're going to play with your brothers in the NHL one day," Jack Hughes said. "You're in the basement, hanging out, playing, but you never really think it's going to become a reality. For it to happen, it's definitely pretty wild. It's three kids in one game.”
Quinn, the 2023-24 Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, said, "Of course, it's the dream. We probably talked about it as kids playing mini-sticks and stuff, but as far as this year, they're going to want two points, I'm going to want two points, and everyone's worried about their individual game.”
The brothers have played against eachother several times. Whenever the Devils face the Canucks, Quinn has the opportunity to play against his brothers.
Now, two years later, the brothers have the opportunity to be united on the same team and play with one another instead of against each other.
How is this possible?
While addressing the end of the season Canucks 2024-25 Canucks season, President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford, said “(Quinn) has said before he wants to play with his brothers. That would be partly out of our control. In our control if we brought his brothers here.”
Bringing his brothers to Vancouver wouldn’t be an easy task.
Jack Hughes signed an 8-year $64 million contract in 2021. He is currently in year four, and it is unlikely that the 2019 first-round pick would be able to pack up and head to Canada.
His younger brother Luke is currently expected to receive a long-term offer. Devils' general manager, Tom Fitzgerald, said on multiple occasions that his offseason priority is to sign Luke to a long-term deal.
Luke, who was the fourth pick in the 2021 draft, is eager to join the Devils organization in a more permanent role. He'll continue playing with his brother, Jack, who is currently under an 8-year, $64 million contract with the team.
It’s unlikely Luke will be open to signing with the Canucks in the next few seasons as well.
That leaves one brother: Quinn.
Trade rumors are circulating regarding the oldest Hughes brother, and there is a possibility that Quinn could be reunited with his brothers in New Jersey.
The catch? It likely wouldn’t happen for another two years.
Quinn is currently entering year five of his six-year contract. The Canucks own the rights to him for the next two years, however after that Rutherford said, “if we get to that trade deadline two years from now, and it looks like he doesn't want to stay then, then we would have to do something at that point. But we are hoping that he's here to stay and he's the leader of the team and the face of the franchise."
Quinn is currently speculated to be one of the highest-paid defenders in the NHL, with his next contract in 2027. While the Canucks President of Operations has optimism that Quinn will remain a Canuck, his next contract will be likely be a hefty one. When the time comes, if salary isn’t an issue, the Canucks will need to offer something more valuable to Quinn than a reunion with his siblings.
There is still time until Quinn’s contract is up, but the Devils could be a real option for him come 2027.
The three brothers want to play together again, the Canucks aren’t sure if they can convince Quinn to stay, and the Devils could use another strong defender especially with uncertainty surrounding Dougie Hamilton’s long-term role.
Is it possible that we could see all three Hughes brothers competing together with the red and black on their backs? Yes. Will it be this season? Most likely not. However, it’s never too soon to start preparing for the possibility that Jack, Luke, and Quinn could be skating together daily in the Prudential Center.
Photo Credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images