Hughes banking on speed and smarts as he approaches talks with Canucks

Speed and smarts are the separators.

They could allow 18-year-old Quinn Hughes to transition to the NHL this fall after just one NCAA season. And while the Vancouver Canucks would welcome a dynamic, puck-rushing defenceman who can change the tempo of the game, there are many moving parts to making it happen. The best part is Hughes. He’s all in on taking on the next challenge — he’ll even be involved in contract talks — but he’s wary that few make the NHL leap at age 18.

Aaron Ekblad was already a sixfoot-four beast when he did that in 2014. The Calder Trophy winner had 39 points (12-27) for the Florida Panthers, but the rapidly changing game could allow the five-foot-10 Hughes to excel.

“My skating is obviously an attribute that separates me for sure, but my mind and hockey sense truly separate me,” the confident Hughes said Tuesday. “You see a lot of good skaters out there, but if you can’t think, you can’t play.”

The Canucks have expressed interest in meeting with the Hughes family and their representatives to strike a deal. If he doesn’t start the season with the Canucks, he could return to the University of Michigan or sign a contract and turn pro with the Utica Comets. He’s not signed to a CHL team and not bound by the NHL-CHL pact that keeps teenagers from the minors.

“Obviously, it’s my career and I want to have a big say in that, and I have my opinions,” said Hughes.

“But I’m dealing with a lot of smart hockey people who have done this for a long time. If it’s my agents Pat Brisson or J.P. Barry, or my dad, or the Canucks, I’m going to listen and gather my own thoughts. We haven’t had any conversations and that’s good. I need to focus on getting in the weight room and getting stronger and faster. ”