ANAHEIM, Calif. — Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes confirmed Thursday that he was completely unaware what team president Jim Rutherford had for breakfast.
But as for hockey matters and the “transition” of the National Hockey League team that Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin are trying to undertake, Hughes, the captain, said he speaks regularly with Rutherford and has an excellent relationship with the Canucks’ hockey-operations boss.
“Me and Jim have a really good relationship, and I have a ton of respect for Jim,” Hughes said after the Canucks practised here Thursday. “He’s a Hall-of-Fame GM, and absolutely, yeah, I talk to him.
“I don’t know about always being on the same boat or anything like that, but I know that I have tremendous respect for Jim and have no problem talking to Jim and vice versa. He has been a resource for me, and it’s been a good relationship for me. So he knows how I feel (and) I know how he feels.”
That said, Hughes was unaware until the story broke publicly this week — then was confirmed by Rutherford — that the Canucks had notified other NHL teams that Vancouver players eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer are available now in trade.
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It beamed a spotlight on buzzsaw winger Kiefer Sherwood, who is easily the best and most marketable Canuck on an expiring contract. The 30-year-old also happens to be the team’s top-goal scorer this season with 12 in 24 games.
Sherwood thoughtfully and professionally answered Sportsnet’s questions about the uncomfortable situation on Wednesday morning, then played another strong game as his struggling team beat the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 5-4 that night.
“You know, I love it here and I love this group here, and I just want to continue to take it day by day,” Sherwood told us. “I guess it’s just part of the gig. You’ve got to be professional and you have a job to go play. You try to have a good mindset through it all.”
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman first reported the story Monday night. In an interview with PostMedia on Tuesday, Rutherford reiterated the Canucks’ need to get younger and clarified that he is soliciting interest on their UFA-eligible players — Sherwood, Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger and Derek Forbort — and that “this isn’t about just looking at trading everybody.”
“I mean, I think this is all about winning games,” Hughes said Thursday, referring to the Canucks’ 10-12-2 record and position near the bottom of the standings. “If we were winning games, Jim wouldn’t have said that. I don’t exactly know what he said because I’m not on Twitter or anything, but I heard the gist of it, and I think, like I said, if we were winning games, there would be no conversation about this.”
After Vancouver opened the season with the singular goal of returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs, injuries quickly reached a critical mass, defensive play eroded and the team started losing. The win against the Pacific Division-leading Ducks was just the Canucks’ second in eight games, but still left them five points adrift of a playoff spot at U.S. Thanksgiving.
The Canucks flew to San Jose after Thursday’s practice and play a mid-day game there Friday against the Sharks, another rebuilding team that has become competitive after being deliberately poor for years.
Hughes, of course, is eligible for free agency after next season, and the best player in Canucks history is expected to decide this summer whether to sign an extension or seek a trade to the New Jersey Devils to play with younger brothers Jack and Luke.
Within this subplot to the Canucks season, every move management makes will be viewed by many through the lens of how Quinn Hughes feels about it.
“It’s not like Jim’s telling me what he had for breakfast,” Hughes said. “But, I mean, we talk and we have a good relationship. I know our coaches are coaching hard and working hard, and we work extremely hard (as players). We’ve just got to keep going like that.
“Obviously. . . it’s all about winning, so I was glad we won last night. You want to be competitive and you never want to lose on your home ice like we did a few nights ago (5-2 against the Calgary Flames on Sunday). That’s a bad feeling. But as far as whatever happens next, all I can control is my game and attitude and trying to be a good leader. And I feel like, as far as my game, it’s as good as it has been. So that’s all I can do right now.”
Anyone who thinks Hughes is texting grievances to Rutherford — or has agent Pat Brisson making managerial demands — probably underestimates the superstar’s steady professionalism.
“I mean, I have my moments where I’m not a pro,” Hughes smiled. “Like, you can ask the guys around here; I have my moments. But as far as that, like, the main thing is your game. And last night, I felt like I created eight or nine or 10 scoring chances. That’s all you can do. And defend hard. Everything else is just people talking.
“We had a good win last night, and all we can do is try to grab as many points as we can on this road trip.”
Hughes said he doesn’t believe spurring trade talks this far ahead of the March 6 trade deadline disrupts the team because players, especially the UFAs, have “been around” and understand the NHL is a business.
He also doesn’t view it as surrendering on the season.
“We should believe (in ourselves),” Hughes said. “I mean, we should be approaching every game like it is our last. Or how we approach the first game of the year, with that kind of excitement. We should be approaching tomorrow’s game like that, as well. I don’t know why anything would change. I think that’s just being a professional.”
• Coach Adam Foote made one change for Thursday’s practice, inserting Lukas Reichel in the middle of the fourth line while centre Aatu Raty skated as an extra. With one assist in 13 games since his trade from the Chicago Blackhawks, Reichel was healthy-scratched the last three games. Foote said Raty could use “a little bit of a break.” Centre Max Sasson was promoted from the fourth line to replace Raty between Sherwood and Drew O’Connor, while Reichel practised with wingers Linus Karlsson and Arshdeep Bains.
