Given the hubbub, it would seem that when Jack Hughes speaks, people listen—especially in Vancouver. The star forward for the New Jersey Devils stirred up a hornet’s nest this week when he openly admitted he’d like to play with his brother Quinn someday.
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As Mike Halford noted below, brother Jack told reporters: “Honestly, I’m not afraid to say it. I’d love for Quinn to (a pause) eventually, I’d love to play with him. Whether that’s in New Jersey or wherever, at some point I want to play with Quinn.”
It was a small quote, a passing remark—but in a market like Vancouver, it detonated like dynamite.
Why It Landed So Loudly in Vancouver
Quinn Hughes isn’t just any player. He’s the captain of the Vancouver Canucks, the centrepiece of their blue line, and arguably the most important draft pick in franchise history since the Sedins. When his brother Jack suggests that a reunion might someday be in the cards, fans immediately think about what that means for Quinn’s long-term future in Vancouver.
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The reaction was immediate. Some Canucks fans heard it as harmless brotherly love. Others panicked: Was Jack trying to lure Quinn to New Jersey? On local radio, Halford and Brough joked that Hughes had “kicked the hornet’s nest.” Social media lit up with speculation about tampering, exit strategies, and whether Vancouver could ever realistically bring Jack—or even Luke Hughes—west instead.
Parsing Jack Hughes’ Words, Constructing His Personal Meaning
It’s worth noting how Jack phrased it. He caught himself mid-sentence when he started to say he’d love for Quinn to “play in New Jersey.” Instead, he pivoted: “I’d love to play with him… wherever that would be.” That little self-edit said a lot.
(Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports)
It showed awareness that fans (and media) would jump all over any direct mention of Quinn leaving Vancouver. It also showed that Jack wasn’t trying to hide anything. He does want to play with his brother. But, he wisely wasn’t going to pin it down to one city.
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For all the noise, it might be less about New Jersey recruiting Quinn and more about two brothers being honest about a dream they’ve had since they were kids.
What His Brother Jack’s Words Might Mean for Quinn
The real pressure lands on Quinn Hughes. He’s under contract, he’s the Canucks’ leader, and he’s constantly asked about his future. Earlier this summer, he told Iain MacIntyre: “Who knows how I’ll feel at this time next year?” That wasn’t exactly a resounding lifetime commitment.
Now, with Jack’s comments, Quinn will be asked about it again. Does he double down on his commitment to Vancouver? Deflect with humour? Or leave the door cracked open? Each answer will be dissected by fans and media alike. For Quinn, “family first” isn’t just a phrase—it’s a spotlight that follows him everywhere.
What it Means for the Canucks
This is where the team comes in. The Hughes brothers’ dream isn’t new. Everyone knows it. But whether that dream gets realized in Vancouver or somewhere else depends mainly on the Canucks themselves.
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Fans texted Halford and Brough with the same message. The Canucks simply have to be better. Don’t have another season of chaos, missed expectations, or off-ice drama. Keep the team competitive, build a true contender around Quinn, and the Hughes family dream doesn’t have to threaten Vancouver’s future. Fail to do so, and speculation will only intensify.
Could the Brothers Play in Vancouver?
It’s not impossible. Quinn is already here. Could Jack—or even Luke Hughes—one day join him? It’s a stretch, but not a fantasy. NHL history is full of brothers playing together. The best case of all happened with the Sedin brothers in Vancouver. And, boy did they make Canucks magic. But there were also the Staals in Carolina and the Sutters in who knows how many cities.
If the Canucks ever pulled it off, it would be a marketing dream: Quinn leading the defence, Jack driving the offence, Luke developing on the back end. But for now, that’s just a dream scenario—and one Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald isn’t in a rush to consider, except perhaps the other way.
Final Thoughts: Brothers and the Bigger Picture
Jack Hughes didn’t invent this storyline. He said out loud what the Hughes family has always believed: someday, the brothers want to play together. Whether that’s in New Jersey, Vancouver, or somewhere else, it’s a possibility that grows more real as contracts run their course.
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What’s so interesting is the initial angst from Canucks fans. What does it say about the Canucks’ psyche that the instant reaction is panic—“he’s leaving”—instead of ambition—“why not bring him here?” Why not flip the narrative and imagine Vancouver as the place where all three Hughes brothers would want to play together?
For Canucks fans, the takeaway shouldn’t be panic. It should be perspective. The brothers’ dream is alive, but so is Vancouver’s opportunity to keep Quinn happy, competitive, and committed. In the end, the best defence against “family first” speculation is simple: build a winning team.
If the Canucks can do that, then Quinn won’t have to imagine playing with his brothers anywhere else.
