Canucks Fall Short Against NHL’s Best, But Quinn Hughes Keeps Making His Case
There’s no such thing as a moral victory in the standings, but if ever there was a game that flirted with that idea, it was this one. The Canucks went toe-to-toe with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche in Denver, pushed them for 60 minutes, and still came up short in a 3-1 loss.
The effort was there. The execution?
Not quite enough - and that’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re already sliding down the standings.
Head coach Adam Foote didn’t sugarcoat the result, but he did see something to build on.
“We played great and I hate that we lost to a great team,” Foote said postgame. “First goal, rebound right to MacKinnon.
We know he’s there and we’re a little bit off him. And we lost coverage on another one… had a 2-on-1 - they’re going to put those in.
We had to bury a few chances early because they capitalize on a few mistakes.”
Foote’s frustration was clear, but so was his pride in the way his team showed up. The Canucks actually generated more Grade-A chances than the Avalanche - no small feat against a team that thrives on punishing even the smallest defensive lapses.
But that’s what separates the contenders from the chasers. Colorado didn’t need a dozen chances - they needed a few, and they made them count. That’s what veteran, playoff-tested teams do.
Canucks' Slide Continues - And So Do the Rumors
The loss drops Vancouver to 2-6-2 over their last 10 games, and the Wild Card picture is slipping further out of reach. They now trail Seattle by five points, and the Kraken have three games in hand. That’s not just a hill to climb - that’s a mountain, and the Canucks are trying to scale it without much traction.
Naturally, the trade chatter is heating up - and not just around depth pieces. When a team struggles like this, even the foundational players become part of the conversation. And yes, that includes Quinn Hughes.
There’s no real indication that a Hughes move is imminent, but the noise is growing. If the Canucks were to even consider such a seismic shift, the return would have to be massive - think multiple players, future assets, and a clear path toward getting younger and better long-term.
But on nights like Tuesday, Hughes reminds everyone why that’s such a delicate conversation. He was everywhere.
Four shots, 12 total attempts, and nearly 30 minutes of ice time (29:27, to be exact). He pushed the pace, quarterbacked the offense, and did everything short of putting the puck in himself.
The Canucks didn’t win, but Hughes sure didn’t lose them the game.
Trade Market Quiet - But Vancouver’s Name Keeps Coming Up
League-wide, the trade market has been unusually quiet to start the season, but if there’s one team consistently in the mix of insider chatter, it’s Vancouver.
On TSN’s Insider Trading, the spotlight turned to Kiefer Sherwood - a name that’s been drawing plenty of interest. With a manageable $1.5 million cap hit and a gritty, playoff-style game, Sherwood checks a lot of boxes for contending teams looking to add depth and energy.
Pierre LeBrun noted that Minnesota, Montreal, and Dallas are among the teams that have “kicked tires” on Sherwood, and there’s reason to believe more could follow. Vancouver isn’t in a rush here - they’re playing the long game, trying to get a full read on the market. If a team is willing to not just rent Sherwood but re-sign him long-term, that could significantly boost the return.
What’s Next?
For now, the Canucks are stuck in that frustrating middle ground - playing hard, showing flashes, but not getting the results. The effort in Denver was encouraging, but moral victories don’t count in the playoff race. And with the standings slipping away, every game - and every decision - takes on a little more weight.
Whether it’s Hughes, Sherwood, or someone else, Vancouver’s front office has some big calls to make. And based on how this season is trending, they might have to make them sooner rather than later.