Elliotte Friedman outlines what comes next for the Canucks after blockbuster trade

After months of speculation, the Vancouver Canucks finally traded Quinn Hughes this past week, getting not one, not two but three former first-round picks in return for their former captain.

On paper, it's hard to win a trade when you are the one giving away the best player, but with Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and especially Zeev Buium, the Canucks now have some building blocks for the future.

Despite entering 2025/26 looking to bounce back and push for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, this is a team that now appears ready for a rebuild, something that Elliotte Friedman has now all but confirmed.

During the latest episode of the Donnie and Dahli Show, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman made an appearance, as he was set to discuss the future of the Canucks and where they go from here.

While some expected some more moves from Vancouver, potentially looking to acquire a veteran to fill a role and turn things around, Friedman states that this isn't going to be a season of short-term fixes, with the team now prepared for a lengthy rebuild.

With a core that includes Buium, Rossi, Ohgren and Tom Willander combined with some veterans, the team are seemingly content to let this season play out, with the opportunity to add an elite young talent in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Only time will tell whether or not they can accomplish that goal, but with some other veterans that could possibly be moved and an eye for the future, expect Vancouver to commit to their rebuild moving forward as they look to build a consistent contender.