Quinn Hughes has become one of the NHL’s best blueliners. Here are three takeaways from his astonishing rookie campaign with the Vancouver Canucks.
Quinn Hughes revolutionized the blueline for the Vancouver Canucks this season. That is a fact. The 20-year-old American from Orlando, Florida is the greatest thing to happen to the Canucks since pretty much ever, and his consistently impressive rookie campaign was just the beginning of his reign of dominance as one of the NHL’s best young defensemen.
In 50 years, the Canucks have never had a blueliner that can wheel and deal with the puck as well as Hughes. His 53 points (eight goals, 45 assists) were the most of any rookie in the NHL this season, and more impressively, he finished tied for fourth in scoring amongst all blueliners in the league. He effortlessly outperformed and outscored big-name defenders including Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, and Rasmus Dahlin.
Hughes’ maturity in the defensive end proved to be miles beyond his years, and quickly without skipping a beat he became responsible for shutting down the best players in the world. At the other end of the ice, Quinn was an absolute magician quarterbacking the man-advantage and racking up points.
In a season filled with Rookie of the Month awards, All-Star Game appearances, and comparisons to the great defenders of the past, it’s difficult to narrow down his list of great accomplishments to just three. Without further ado, here are my three most important takeaways from his remarkable rookie campaign.