Quinn Hughes signed a six-year deal on October 1, 2021
When it comes to sports, there is a lot of looking back and wondering what if. For example, what if the Vancouver Canucks kept Bo Horvat over J.T. Miller or decided to launch a rebuild in 2014? Another what-if moment is starting to form as it surrounds Quinn Hughes and the contract he signed back in 2021.
On October 1, 2021, then-GM Jim Benning announced that the Canucks had signed Hughes to a six-year, $47.1 million extension. Hughes was developing into a star at the time, posting 97 points in his first 129 games. Looking back, the contract has turned into a steal as Vancouver received a Norris-level defenceman who carries a cap hit of only $7.8 million.
While Hughes' contract has turned into one of the best values in the NHL, it has also created a massive issue this year. With the deal expiring after the 2026-27 season, the clock has already started when it comes to Hughes' future with the Canucks. Based on reports, it appears a Hughes trade is imminent, with suitors already lining up to try and work out a trade.
The what-if moment when it comes to Hughes' contract is not whether or not he should have been signed, but rather why he wasn't signed to an eight-year deal. Yes, there was some salary cap uncertainty due to the pandemic, but other teams found ways to sign their young stars to eight-year deals. Here is a look at players who were under 22 and signed long-term deals between July 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022:
Eight-Year Contracts:
- Jack Hughes, $8 million cap hit, November 2021
- Nick Suzuki, $7.875 million cap hit, October 2021
- Andrei Svechnikov, $7.75 million cap hit, August 2021
- Miro Heiskanen, 8.45 million cap hit, July 2021
Seven-Year Contracts:
- Brady Tkachuk, $8,223,565 cap hit, October 2021
Six-Year Contracts:
- Quinn Hughes, $7.85 million, October 2021
- Joel Farabee, $5 million cap hit, September 2021
- Cale Makar, $9 million cap hit, July, 2021
One issue Vancouver had back in 2021 that impacted their ability to give Hughes a larger contract was poor salary cap management. The big issue was Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who had a cap hit of over $7 million when the Canucks traded for him. That trade continues to haunt the organization to this day, as Ekman-Larsson lasted two seasons before being bought out.
Ultimately, Vancouver's decision not to sign Hughes for eight years is coming back to bite the organization. Instead of dealing with this situation two years from now, the Canucks must make a franchise-altering decision when the team is at one of its lowest points. As mentioned, Hughes not signing an eight-year deal has become a significant what-if moment that will be talked about for the foreseeable future.
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