Foote: Canucks 'can feel' talk about Hughes' future

Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote acknowledged that talk regarding captain Quinn Hughes' future with the team has reached the locker room.

"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."

The Canucks are last in the NHL with an 11-16-3 record through 30 games. Noise around Hughes' future picked up when Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the New Jersey Devils touched base with the Canucks.

New Jersey has long been linked to Hughes, as his younger brothers, Jack and Luke, both play for the Devils. Jack told reporters in September that he wants to play with Quinn at some point in his NHL career.

Quinn is signed through the 2026-27 campaign at a $7.85-million cap hit, and he has no trade protection.

He has two goals and 22 points in 25 games this season and is tied for the team lead in scoring. He paced the Canucks last campaign with 76 points despite only playing 68 contests.

The 26-year-old won the Norris Trophy in 2023-24, and was a finalist for the award last year.