Vancouver Canucks: Quinn Hughes’ coach suggests another year at Michigan
By Alex Hoegler
Though some believe Vancouver Canucks prospect Quinn Hughes could play in the NHL next season, Michigan head coach Mel Pearson believes it’s best for the 2018 first-round pick to play one more year at college.
The Vancouver Canucks landed Michigan defenceman Quinn Hughes with the seventh pick in this year’s draft, and now the question is whether or not he’s ready to jump into the NHL right off the bat.
Shortly after being drafted, Hughes admitted he’s “ready right now,” per Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre, and that he can “help the Vancouver Canucks” immediately. But how does University of Michigan head coach Mel Pearson feel about that?
Speaking with Mike Johnston of Sportsnet, Pearson explained why he feels like another year of college would be best for the 5-foot-10 Hughes:
"I just want to make sure he’s physically mature to handle the 82-game schedule and the grind of the NHL. I would say Quinn could use a year [to physically mature]. But having said that, he’s so elusive, he’s so smart, he seems to never put himself in a bad position to get hit. And the way the NHL’s going—I don’t want to say there’s less hitting—it seems like it’s a skating/skill game, until maybe when you get to the playoffs where it seems like it’s a different type game."
Though it’s quite rare for defencemen to jump to the NHL in the same year they’re drafted, Hughes could certainly be an exception.
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The slick skater and puck-mover had five goals and 29 points for Michigan in 37 games last year. Hughes also shined for USA at the 2018 World Hockey Championships, registering two assists in 10 games and leading his nation to a bronze medal.
Hughes was also one of the top players at the 2018 World Juniors, scoring three assists in seven games and helping the Americans win bronze. So if there’s any blueliner prospect that’s ready for the NHL, it’s Hughes.
But if the Canucks were to make room for Hughes this upcoming season, general manager Jim Benning will need to start making some trades.
Alexander Edler, Chris Tanev, even and Ben Hutton have been mentioned in trade rumours, though the former has maintained he wants to stay in Vancouver. Trading Michael Del Zotto is another option, but it’s hard to see Vancouver moving out any other blueliner outside of these four.
It’s also possible that Olli Juolevi — the fifth-overall pick from 2016 — makes the team next year. Add it all up, and it’s hard to see how Benning would make room for Hughes to join the roster this year.
The Canucks are known for patiently developing their prospects, so it’d be uncharacteristic for them to bring Hughes in for 2018-19. Either way, Pearson told Johnson that Canucks fans will love what they get in Hughes — whether he’s on the roster next season or not.
“Every day, you go to practice, every game there’s always that wow factor at some point with Quinn,” Pearson said. “Whether it’s next [season] or the year after, Vancouver, the fans, they’re going to be excited. He is one of those players that you will actually pay money to go watch. He’s that electrifying.”
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Canucks fans just need to wait and see what happens with Hughes. Whether it’s this season or next, all that matters is that they have a budding superstar blueliner in their prospect system.