‘He has to make sure he takes care of himself. We need a healthy Quinn Hughes if we’re going to go anywhere.’ — Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet
Hughes started to build a career foundation with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich., and them at the University of Michigan.
He won world Under-18 championship gold with the USNTDP in 2017 and then bronze at the world junior event in 2018. He also competed in 2019 and won silver.
“It (2018 worlds) was the first time I played the pro game,” recalled Hughes. “It made this transition here (NHL), and I’m not going to say easy, but definitely way easier than I think it would be.
“Mentally, I felt better prepared.”
It’s why the loyal Hughes made the agonizing decision Sunday afternoon to not participate in the 4-Nations Face-Off tournament that opens Wednesday in Montreal. Hughes sustained an oblique injury Jan.31 that has affected an ability to quickly pivot to trigger the transition.
Hughes understands the commitment to get the Canucks back to the playoffs.
The club struggled on the power play for transitional drive in the absence of Hughes. They’ve gone 3-for-12 in four games without their catalyst to quarterback the alignment with smarts, skill, pinpoint passing, an improved shot and added elusiveness.
A new tool in his offensive repertoire — driving wide and around the net to look for passing and scoring options — has given man-advantage opportunities more bite.
During ongoing injury rehab, Hughes skated on his own with a skills coach, but pain management and further infliction of the ailment are concerns. Especially with the Canucks entering the NHL break on a 6-1-1 run and in a playoff position.
Hughes is tied for second in scoring among league defencemen with 59 points (14-45) and is four points back of Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, who has played 10 more games.
Hughes delivered a heavy late-game hit in Dallas on Evgenii Dadonov, that sent the reigning Norris Trophy winner sprawling in an awkward fashion. Dadonov then cross-checked Hughes in the ribs. He was in agony on the bench and struggled to finish the game with an oblique strain.
He has played through pain before but this one seemed more concerning. He needs to be at his best for the stretch-drive test.
“The biggest issues would be battles, hitting, contact and some impact on his shooting,” B.C. physician Dr. Harjas Grewal, who’s also an ardent hockey analyst, said of the injury and trying to play through it.
“It’s hard to be fully effective in a game, just like a leg muscle strain, and it’s why he was out on the ice alone doing some work.”
At the 2018 world championship, U.S. head coach Jeff Blashill, got an up close and personal view of the whiz-kid Hughes, who seemed destined to be drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in June of that year.
“I had a pretty unique opportunity to see him first-hand,” recalled Blashill, who was also the Red Wings’ bench boss. “I like that he cares a ton, wants to be a player, has big-time passion for hockey and is willing to get better. I’m a big fan.
“I thought he could be one of those guys who had a skill set that was transferable. Some guys are really good in junior or college, but maybe they’re not explosive enough or not big enough or fast enough.
“He’s super-explosive with the best players in the world because of his skating.”
And if Blashill had some significant say at the draft table, Hughes might be in Detroit today and not in Vancouver.
More drama for Demko?
We were told it’s supposedly nothing serious. And it’s not a recurrence of that left-knee concern.
And when he flexed his left knee after making a first-period save — and then giving way to Kevin Lankinen after six saves in 10 minutes in what would be a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs — there was reason to hope for the best.
And, maybe, fear the worst.
After all, Demko’s 3-1-1 run prior to Saturday featured an encouraging 1.25 goals-against average, .952 saves percentage and a shutout. That freak popliteus knee-muscle injury way back on April 21 was in the rear-view mirror of a long and arduous rehabilitation.
“He wasn’t hurt, it was just something that happened during the game, and I don’t think it’s that’s serious, but I don’t know,” Tocchet said of the Saturday exit.
“From early reports, it’s not the knee. So, we don’t have to have you guys (media) speculate. We’ll see.”