Tension returns to the Canucks room at the worst possible time

The Vancouver Canucks are, once again, dealing with issues in their dressing room. We all remember how last season, there was a reported feud between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, which lead to the latter getting traded to the New York Rangers.

This time now, it’s not two players that are causing havoc in the dressing room, but just one. The trade rumors surrounding star defenseman Quinn Hughes have gotten so loud that head coach Adam Foote has revealed it has reached the dressing room and affected the entire roster.

“They obviously hear it,” Foote told reporters Wednesday. “When I’ve been around things like that, you’re not talking about it. You’re trying not to think about it, but it’s there, and you can feel it certain days more than others. I can feel it certain days more than others, and these guys are human. They can feel it.

“It can affect, for sure, a locker room. I have to give the guys credit. They’re in a tough spot, hearing the noise. They keep coming to work every day and keep doing their job. They’re pros, that’s what they’re supposed to do. They can hear it. It probably affects some players more than others. But, like I said, I give them a lot of credit for coming to work, trying to win hockey games, and do their job.”

Foote did not hold back and was quite candid about what’s happening in his locker room.

The season has been rough on Vancouver, who sits last in the NHL with an 11-16-3 record through 30 games. Rumours have since linked Hughes to the trade market and got especially intense when he was reportedly targeted by the New Jersey Devils, younger brothers, Jack and Luke, are playing. Jack told reporters before the start of the 2025-26 campaign that he wants to play with Quinn at some point in his NHL career.

Quinn Hughes, who is signed through the 2026-27 campaign at a $7.85-million cap hit, along with a no trade clause, has two goals and 22 points in 25 games this season and is tied for the Canucks lead in scoring.

Moving in would be the start of a new era in Vancouver and the players are clearly aware that things need to change fast or else they risk losing Quinn. Let’s hope the dynamics get better in the dressing room and that the Canucks start winning games.