Quinn Hughes' locker room issues with another Canucks player sped up trade
Canucks insiders have revealed that friction between Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson sped up the team's process in making their blockbuster trade with Minnesota.
The Canucks dealt their franchise defenceman to the Wild and are now publicly intending on launching a rebuild. They still have some quality players on their roster, but things keep declining in Elias Pettersson's career.
Canucks insider reveals Hughes' frustration with Pettersson expedited trade to Minnesota
Insiders have reported that Hughes and Pettersson have drifted apart, as Hughes joined in frustrations about the centre's work ethic. As Hughes held a goodbye dinner with the Canucks, Pettersson wasn't in attendance.
Sources have said Hughes and Pettersson have generally just drifted apart. As important Hughes was in supporting his teammate last season, he still had grown frustrated with Pettersson's work ethic.
Pettersson being poor in his off-season preparation has been a frustration for teammates of his before, a player whose off-season efforts don't truly match the high quality his natural talents bring. Too quick to rest on his talents, not a guy who worked hard enough to raise his game through physical preparation.
- The Province
Pettersson being poor in his off-season preparation has been a frustration for teammates of his before, a player whose off-season efforts don't truly match the high quality his natural talents bring. Too quick to rest on his talents, not a guy who worked hard enough to raise his game through physical preparation.
- The Province
After putting up a 102 point season in 2022-23 and agreeing to a contract extension paying him $11.6M annually, Pettersson has never quite looked like the same player.
Pettersson's scoring declined to just a 57 point pace last season, and though he has rebounded a bit offensively this season - his overall game and defensive play has declined massively. There's been questions about his effort level and preparation over this time.
Those questions were the source of the JT Miller drama in Vancouver, and now a direct factor in the Hughes trade.
No matter how much they deny it, the Canucks clearly have issues with the culture in their locker room that broke apart a promising core. It really does seem their best path forward is to tear it down, and try to rebuild with an entirely new young core.
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