Twenty years later, it is becoming the Devils’ time to reap the rewards of brotherly love. Two decades after Scott Niedermayer followed his heart to join his brother Rob across the country in Anaheim, it is only a matter of time before Quinn Hughes comes cross-continent the other way to follow the same dream. 

The eldest Hughes sibling has made it clear he wants to unite with Jack and Luke. Here’s a secret: It’s not going to be in Vancouver. Quinn may have two years remaining on his contract before he can become a free agent in 2027, but there is no reason to delay the inevitable. 

The sooner the better for the Canucks, whose season was destroyed from loud noise within and have lost the coach in Rick Tocchet the organization wanted to retain. 

At least the Vancouver hierarchy will have the opportunity to get something in return — it should be a bounty — for the brilliant 25-year-old defenseman the way that the Devils did not when the then-30-year-old Scott Niedermayer bolted in the summer of 2005 after the final year of his contract expired during the canceled 2004-05 season.