Vancouver Canucks’ GM Jim Benning: Calder-finalist whisperer

The Hughes bros.

The youngest Canucks roster defenceman, Quinn, who turns 20 this October, could be the best skater in the world next to maybe only his brother Jack. The highly-rated prospect is the most talented defenceman ever drafted by the Canucks.

The flash feet come from starting young. The Detroit News has a great article for insight about the impressive athletic pedigree of the Hughes family and early development of their kids, like when baby brother Luke Hughes (the youngest of the three brothers) tried on skates for himself at just one-year-old.

With Quinn’s heavenly skating, elite-offensive instincts and the opportunity that should present itself with the Canucks this season, he projects as a top-four challenger in the quest for next season’s Calder Memorial Trophy, to be voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

In his brief NHL look at the end of last season, Quinn had three assists in five games. Those few points extrapolate to 49.2 points over 82 games. Of course, this is only math but it begs the question if he can do that with a quick NHL introduction on an injury-riddled roster at the end of a long season, what will he accomplish this season with Benning’s fresh and playoff-emboldened lineup?

Noting that scoring is on the uptick league-wide, and considering the suddenly well-muscled Canucks lineup, an injury does seem somewhat avoidable for their young offensive stars this season. There’s good reason to believe Quinn can stay healthy and thrive as a creative defender, perhaps even approach 18-year-old Phil Housley‘s 1983 mark of 66 points in 77 games, fourth-most all time by an NHL-rookie defenceman.

While some few dozen years separate these two defenders, they have something of a similar skating style and skill, but will it ever be enough for Hughes to overcome all the challenges and challengers along the way?