A press conference was held by Jim Rutherford where he made some very uneasy comments about Quinn Hughes' future with the Canucks, causing panic. Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford has never been afraid to speak his mind, and <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/vancouver-canucks/jim-rutherford-makes-a-concerning-statement-about-quinn-hughes-after-firing-rick-tocchet' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>he gave the fans' hearts a new chill with his latest comments.</a> Accustomed to in-your-face honesty, Rutherford has a knack for being the center of attention. His bombshell comments with 'The Globe and Mail' about the J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson debacle won't be forgotten by fans anytime soon. Then, more recently, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/vancouver-canucks/rick-tocchet-will-not-be-returning-as-canucks-head-coach-per-elliotte-friedman' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>when news of head coach Rick Tocchet's exit broke</a>, Rutherford fueled speculation of Quinn Hughes' Vancouver fate. Canucks captain Hughes himself was a vocal defender of Tocchet and was apparently hoping that he stayed with the team, which no longer appears to be the case. With two years remaining on his contract, Hughes' reported exit is now causing quite the commotion. Fans had already panicked after hearing Rutherford during the season-finale press conference say that Hughes would one day play with his brothers. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/VinnieParise/status/1914390972303360198'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> However, the most surprising announcement to the fan base was Rutherford's latest statement that the team only owns Hughes for one year and two-thirds. We control him for a year and two-thirds because if we get to that trade deadline two years from now and it looks like he doesn't want to stay, then we would have to do something. - Jim Rutherford <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/noahstrang_/status/1918382001247379589'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <h3>The Canucks would be open to trading Hughes based on Rutherford's comments</h3> The message? That if the 2027 trade deadline passes without <a href='https://www.nhl.com/canucks/player/quinn-hughes-8480800' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Hughes</a> showing the Canucks he's going to re-sign in the long term, they'll have to make the tough decision to trade their franchise cornerstone before they lose him to another team for free. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/CamMcCam/status/1918393656085758414'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/dennisvirshilas/status/1918382995624608152'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Brattstheg0at/status/1918388690356707356'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Rutherford's openness is unusual for NHL governors, who tend to react in rigid, deflective prose. He will chuckle, concede hard realities, and strip away backroom gamesmanship. His bluntness sets him apart, however, and because of that, each word matters. And where the topic is as weighty as Hughes, each word most certainly does matter.