The Vancouver Canucks are officially looking for a new head coach, but the bigger question may be what their captain thinks about it.
Karnax President Jim Rutherford admitted in an announcement of Rick Tocchet's exit on Tuesday that he had never heard Quinn Hughes's echo after calling his defense attorney to notify him of his departure.
"I wish he was playing golf because he usually calls back immediately," Rutherford said. "I called him within half an hour of talking to Rick. He hasn't called me back yet."
Tocchet resigned for personal reasons and desire to be closer to his family.
Jim Rutherford called Quinn Hughes to discuss Rick Tocchet, but he hasn't heard from the captain yet.
— Canucksarmy (@CanuckSarmy) April 29, 2025
Hughes and Tocchet each Rutherford have a close relationship. pic.twitter.com/mauiz8r9lr
Rutherford also acknowledged a strong relationship between the player and the coach, although he believed Hughes’ maturity would allow the franchise to navigate the situation without any hassle.
"Knowing how he feels to the coach and that he is a sensitive person, I would suspect that he feels like me," Rutherford said. "We are disappointed. But knowing Quinn's maturity, he will make the necessary adjustments.
"But they do have a strong relationship, a good relationship, and Quinn has a lot of respect for him, and Tok has a lot of respect for Quinn, so there will definitely be adjustments there."
The 25-year-old Norris Trophy finalist (as Nhlannounouunououunououunououunououunouunououunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunouunou
Hughes revealed in a press conference the silence of Hughes, which is due to the increasing uncertainty of his long-term future in Vancouver.
Although Hughes signed the 2026-27 season and signed a $7.85 million cap for a portion of the six-year or so signed in October 2021, there are questions about Blueliner's long-term plans.
Rutherford repeatedly suggests that the player's final decision may be affected by non-financial factors, including his well-known desire to play with his brothers Jack and Luke, both currently playing with the New Jersey Devils.
"This franchise cannot lose someone like Quinn Hughes," Rutherford said. "We will do everything we can to keep him here, but at the end of the day, it will be his decision."
Related: The Karnaks’ immediate reaction to NHL’s Quinn Hughes announcement
Related: The Metropolitan Franchise is a Threat to Rudd's Rick Tocchet.