The Vancouver Canucks may already be preparing for life after Quinn Hughes, as internal speculation and trade rumors surrounding the star defenseman continue to mount.
With Hughes under contract until 2027, team management appears to be exploring contingency plans should their captain eventually decide to part ways with the franchise.
NEXT: NHL Insider Shares Long-Awaited Trade Update on Canucks Star Elias Pettersson
The buzz stems from recent remarks by Canucks President Jim Rutherford, who hinted in April that Hughes’ future may not be dictated by money or term. Instead, his long-held aspiration to play alongside his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes, could eventually draw him away from Vancouver.
Though a Hughes departure is not imminent, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman stated on Sportsnet 590 that the Canucks are “absolutely on the clock” regarding the star blueliner.
“At some point, Hughes is going to start saying, ‘I don’t want to be somewhere where I’m not gonna win,’” Friedman said, raising concerns about Vancouver’s competitiveness.
Amid these growing uncertainties, Patrick Johnston of The Province floated Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram as a realistic “Plan B” should the Canucks lose Hughes.
Byram, a former fourth overall pick and British Columbia native, fits the mold of a modern, mobile, puck-moving defenseman—essential attributes for filling Hughes’ massive skates.
“He’s obviously not Quinn Hughes, but he still brings that style of game, which clearly you need,” Johnston said on Sekeres and Price. “If you’re worried about Hughes’ future, Byram’s your Plan B.”
Byram, 23, is coming off a breakout 2024–25 season with the Sabres, posting career highs with 38 points (7 goals, 31 assists), a plus-11 rating, and 46 penalty minutes across 82 games.
However, he has reportedly grown dissatisfied with his limited role behind star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin—mirroring his prior situation behind Cale Makar in Colorado.
A restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, Byram’s future in Buffalo is uncertain. According to Friedman, the Sabres are now gauging league interest in the Cranbrook native. Vancouver, with a glaring need for top-end defense depth should Hughes exit, could be a logical suitor.
Any potential deal would likely require significant assets, including the Canucks’ 15th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Yet for a team that could be facing a seismic shift on the blue line, the cost may be worth the insurance.
Though the Canucks remain hopeful of re-signing their captain long-term, the front office appears to be bracing for all eventualities.
If Hughes’ dream to unite with his brothers comes to fruition, Bowen Byram might just be the homegrown solution Vancouver needs.
