THE MIGHTY QUINN
Complete game helping Hughes stake a spot in Calder Trophy race
For Quinn Hughes, simple math is adding up to major Calder Trophy consideration.
It’s addition by subtraction as the dynamic Vancouver Canucks’ rookie defenceman has silenced those who thought he was too small, too suspect defensively and too vulnerable to injury from one of those crushing end-board checks.
Hughes was going to turn heads with a dizzying array of offensive weapons — effortless skating, elite edge work, precise passing and creativity — but his ability to defend and avoid contact injuries while triggering the transition has converted the naysayers.
It has turned one-dimensional talk into multi-dimensional admiration because Hughes did the work. Speed was going to allow him to gain angles while defending and ensure good stick position. He isn’t going to physically box out forwards, he’s going to frustrate them.
“My defensive game is undervalued,” the 20-year-old Hughes said. “It’s something I’ve tried to really work on because I know people pick at it. At times, it’s just as good as my offensive game and I really trust it. At Michigan, I was used as a shutdown guy in key situations and it was good for my overall game.”
Good enough to now pair with Tyler Myers as the Canucks’ most effective tandem. With Alex Edler sidelined with a shoulder ailment, Hughes is working in a new alignment and leading the team in limiting shots and shot attempts at even strength while also controlling play with puck possession.
All that defensive awareness was drilled into Hughes by demanding Wolverines coach Mel Pearson.
“He did a great job with that,” recalled Hughes. “It was more in practice to tell me that I can’t slack off with it (defence). I’m going to do some really special things out there, but at the same time I have to remember my position and this is a team sport and I can’t be giving up things.”
Defensive diligence isn’t sexy and usually gets lost in the love of point production, but a total game marks the true value of any defender and it’s going to get Hughes additional acclaim.
Natural ability, drive and thinking one step ahead in a lightning-quick game was going to put Hughes in the Calder conversation. He leads rookies in assists (22), power play points (14) and takeaways (23), is second in ice time per game (20:35) and third in total points (24).
“He’s so mobile and can escape a lot of trouble by spinning out of things and making plays — a lot of little plays that people don’t even notice — that are incredible and pretty special,” marvelled Canucks defenceman Chris Tanev.
Hughes is on pace for 67 points. He has blown by early 40-point projections because once anointed to anchor the league’s fourth-ranked power play — it struck for most goals (31) and most opportunities (114) heading into league play Sunday — the points were going to pile up.
Christian Ehrhoff was 28 when he put up 50 points (1436) for the Canucks in the 2010-11 season. Kevin Bieksa was 30 when he had 44 points (8-36) in the 2011-12 season which, of course, poses the question: How high can Hughes go?
“He’s a better skater than Ehrhoff and the majority of time he’s going to make a great play,” added Tanev.
“The way he moves and skates, it’s going to carry him a long way.”
Hughes is in a three-way race with injured Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar, who was drilled into the end boards by Brad Marchand Saturday, and Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olafsson for top rookie honours. However, a seamless transition by Hughes into all facets of the game’s toughest position isn’t lost on those who get the closest look.
“He has got a lot of inner belief,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. “He’s very evenkeeled and I like that about
him. He doesn’t get ahead of himself and just plays. He has a real calming influence on the group.
“Right from the start he’s been very smart. You can tell that he has a strong understanding of the game with how he has been brought up and has had good coaching along the way.”
Coaching can only do so much. You can’t teach offence or awareness or the stuff that could see Hughes follow Elias Pettersson as the Calder recipient. The last time teammates went back-to-back for the honour was Bobby Orr for Boston in the 1966-67 season and Derek Sanderson the following year.
Hughes has avoided contact injuries by having his head on a swivel and allowing speed to keep him from collisions. When he did get hurt there was nobody around him. Hughes missed a game after a left-knee bruise Nov. 1. He was retreating in the neutral zone, and when trying to corral a loose puck in the second period at Anaheim, his left ankle folded under him.
He also got a scare last March. Hughes suffered a bruised ankle with Michigan after blocking a shot in the Big Ten best-of-three quarterfinal series opener with Minnesota.
X-rays showed no structural damage and it was just a matter of allowing the ailment to heal before Hughes made his NHL debut later that month.
He’s so mobile and can escape a lot of trouble by spinning out of things ...”
Teammate Chris Tanev