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Avalanche icon didn't hold back when asked about losing Quinn Hughes in NHL's latest blockbuster

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Theodore Mosby
December 19, 2025 (10:10)

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Losing Quinn Hughes has hit the Vancouver Canucks hard, and head coach Adam Foote did not hide that reality when asked about the trade and its ripple effects on the team's identity and locker room. Foote said the move was emotionally difficult, acknowledging that even when you see something coming, trading your captain still stings.

The 2025-26 season has been rough for Vancouver with a record that landed them near the bottom of the standings, and the constant chatter about Hughes' future had the potential to wear on the group well before the deal was struck. Foote confirmed that the trade noise had crept into the locker room, and while players tried to focus on work, they were human and aware of what was swirling around them.

Foote acknowledges locker room impact after Hughes blockbuster.

Marshall Stinson from Vancouver Hockey Daily writes that Foote stressed that the Canucks players kept showing up and doing their jobs, but he didn't sugarcoat the emotional weight of watching a leader depart, especially one who had helped shape the culture in Vancouver.

There's a shared sense among fans that Hughes' presence, both as an elite defenseman and as captain, was central to the team, and Foote's comments underscored that void his departure created.

Hughes was one of the franchise's most accomplished defensemen, a Norris Trophy winner and the all-time assists leader among Canucks blueliners before being traded to the Minnesota Wild.

The trade brought Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-round pick back to Vancouver, and those pieces are already contributing while the team figures out its next chapter.

Newly acquired defenseman Buium had a multi-point debut, showing what the return can look like while players like Rossi provide added firepower.

Despite the new faces, the emotions around Hughes' exit are real, and Foote's candid comments reflect that. He praised the professionalism in the room but also made clear that losing someone of Hughes' caliber isn't just a hockey decision, it's a human one.

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DECEMBRE 19 \| 21 ANSWERS Avalanche icon didn't hold back when asked about losing Quinn Hughes in NHL's latest blockbuster Do you think the Canucks will be better off long-term without Quinn Hughes?
Yes	9	42.9 %
No	12	57.1 %
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Avalanche icon didn't hold back when asked about losing Quinn Hughes in NHL's latest blockbuster

Foote acknowledges locker room impact after Hughes blockbuster.

Do you think the Canucks will be better off long-term without Quinn Hughes?