Canucks Schedule: Hughes-A-Palooza trade circus with Wings, Devils on menu

For one night, the initial chatter was centred on youth, not trade speculation.

That’s all that mattered in the moment Saturday at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks savoured a rare home-ice victory with a 4-2 decision over the visiting Minnesota Wild in which centre Aatu Raty, 23, and blueliners Tom Willander, 20, and Elias Pettersson, 21, rightfully shared the spotlight. And so did towering stopper Nikita Tolopilo, 25.

In the injury absence of centre Elias Pettersson, who was scheduled for an MRI to determine a recovery timeline for an upper-body ailment, Raty led the response. His two goals, three points, plus-3 ranking, four hits, and winning 14 of 16 faceoffs heeded the call of head coach Adam Foote to play with a grit to end a four-game losing streak.

Willander blasted his first NHL goal and finished with two points and a plus-3 rating, while Pettersson also found the net for his first of the season and was also plus-3. Tolopilo turned aside 27 shots, often with Wild players perched in his porch to cause havoc.

Plaudits were plenty because in an injury-riddled season gone south, it was a peek of what could be as the foursome continues to mature.

“Raty really stepped it up and played chippy, more in your face and not just him,” said Foote. “Guys are getting to the net with more urgency and conviction — getting into guys’ bodies before the puck got there. It doesn’t hurt as much when you get in there first and I really like the way we have structure to hold confidence in the young guys.

“It was a tough game to play against a lot of big guys. I’m really proud of the guys for that.”

And then the focus shifted.

After Quinn Hughes lauded the collective effort Saturday, he responded to another trade speculation development. In a Hockey Night in Canada segment, insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that once the Canucks were open for business to move veteran players, the New Jersey Devils reached out and had a conversation about the captain.

Nothing is imminent on the trade front, and with the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers also showing interest in Hughes, it’s prudent for the Canucks to weigh competing offers if Hughes doesn’t sign a contract extension. He could be dealt after the Winter Olympics and before the March 8 trade deadline, or even sooner.

As for that Devils-Canucks conversation, Hughes wasn’t part of it.

“It’s not like me, Jim (Canucks president Rutherford) and Fitzy (Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald) hopped on a call, I wasn’t part of that,” said Hughes. “But, obviously, I’m aware that things like that could happen.”

So, buckle up. It could be a wild ride this week amid rampant speculation as to where Hughes may land and what he could command. Especially with the Canucks hosting the Red Wings on Monday and kicking off a five-game road trip crammed into nine days on Dec. 14 in New Jersey.

Here’s what awaits in the next week. I went 2-1-0 with predictions last week:

Canucks vs. Red Wings

When and where: Monday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

What to watch: The Red Wings believe they’re a playoff team with a seventh-ranked power play operating at 24.5 per cent efficiency. It adds fuel to the Hughes pursuit. He would be PP1 quarterback and elevate a 14th-ranked offence averaging 3.07 goals per outing. Dylan Larkin and Hughes were teammates and roommates at the 2018 world hockey championship, have trained together and remain friends.

Who to watch: Centre Nate Danielson

The Canucks need a pivot in a possible trade package. They had some 2023 draft interest in Danielson, who went ninth overall, before wisely selecting Tom Willander two picks later. Danielson, a hot-shot WHL sniper, is centring the third line as the NHL rookie and has five points (1-4) in 14 games. Danielson had 39 points (12-27) in 71 AHL games last season. Marco Kasper is winging it, but can also play centre. Canucks like both.

Prediction: The Canucks look to build off an encouraging win Saturday and will need the 29th-ranked penalty kill to step up. It has four clean sheets in the last eight games, but the Wings have seven power-play goals from Alex DeBrincat, four from Larkin. Canucks hang on for a 4-3 win.

Canucks vs. Sabres

When and where: Thursday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

What to watch: Some teams just don’t play well on the road. Talent has a lot to do with it. And maybe easier travel for eastern teams accustomed to short flights is a problem. The Sabres are 2-8-2 away from the KeyBank Center. Last season, they tied for the third fewest road victories with a 13-24-4 mark. Tage Thompson leads the club this season with five road goals and had 15 in 2024-25.

Who to watch: Right winger Tage Thompson

Thompson is a lot of things. A first-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2016, he’s the one who got away to play the middle or wing. At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, he’s an imposing force down low, has a great shot release, plus 44 and 47-goal seasons. Was on Team USA that won the world title in May and will get a look to be part of the 2026 Winter Olympics squad.

Prediction: The Canucks need to keep slick Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin from doing his thing and creating offence. He has 17 assists, which is 10th among all league blueliners. But, alas, the Sabres are who they are on the road. Canucks take advantage, win 5-2.

Canucks at Devils

When and where: Sunday, Dec.14, 9:30 a.m. | Prudential Center
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

What to watch: With Jack Hughes sidelined by a finger injury, it will be the Quinn Hughes versus Luke Hughes Bro Show. Maybe not marquee material, but the lingering speculation that New Jersey might be the trade landing spot for the Canucks captain will ramp up the interest. And it might stop the boos because the Devils have lost five straight. Still, they’re 9-4-1 at home, and have the eighth-ranked power play.

Who to watch: Centre Dawson Mercer

Amid talk of what a Quinn Hughes trade package return would look like, Mercer merits consideration along with defenceman Simon Nemec, 21. Mercer, 24, has twice eclipsed the 20-goal plateau and is on pace for 24 goals this season. The first-round pick in 2020 is centring the second line and has 21 points (10-11) in 29 games. Nemec went second overall in 2022 and leads club blueliners with 15 points (6-9).

Prediction: Day games are always a coin toss. It messes with normal routines and goalies are such creatures of habit, that it can affect them the most. J.T. Miller and Rick Tocchet also await on long five-game slog. Don’t look past the Devils. Jersey wins 4-3.

bkuzma@postmedia.com