(Vancouver) Quinn Hughes assures that he does not get carried away by the numbers.
The Vancouver Canucks captain on Monday became the first NHL player to reach the 30-point plateau in 2023-24 with eight goals – equaling his personal mark – and 22 assists.
“Yeah, well, I was second in the league among defensemen last year, you know, and that doesn’t mean much at the end of the day,” said the defender on Monday after a victory of 3-1 against the San Jose Sharks.
Hughes is the third guard in league history to amass 30 points in his first 17 games during a season.
He showed his offensive potential during his five seasons with the club, but he has moved to another level since wearing the “C”. He also benefits from the presence of two former elite defensemen in Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar, who are both part of the Canucks coaching staff.
“They gave me advice,” Hughes said of the two men. I try to listen to the coaches. They helped me develop my game, they helped improve the team’s play. »
PHOTO DARRYL DYCK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Adam Foote, assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks (right)
Both joined the Canucks when Rick Tocchet replaced Bruce Boudreau at the helm of the team in January 2023.
Foote is Tocchet’s assistant, while Gonchar is the defensive player development instructor.
“I knew he could defend and play hockey, but I didn’t know how competitive he was,” Foote said of Hughes.
The former Colorado Avalanche and Stanley Cup champion was a different player than Hughes, but he and Gonchar tried to impart some of their wisdom through their advice to the Canucks defensive brigade.
“We try to explain to them that everything we tell them is based on our mistakes against some great hockey players, which I think makes them more comfortable,” Foote said.
Gonchar was the first Russian defenseman to score 20 goals in the NHL in 1998-99. After this 21-goal campaign, he surpassed the 50-point plateau the following year, with a tally of 54 points.
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Sergei Gonchar while playing for the Canadian in 2015.
Foote totaled 308 points (66 goals, 242 assists) in more than 1,000 games with the Quebec Nordiques and the Avalanche.
Hughes said Gonchar helped him work on the offensive side of his game. The results weren’t long in coming, considering the guard didn’t score in his first 29 games last season.
“I know before the matches that I will have a chance to score,” he said after scoring his eighth goal on Monday.
Tocchet was quick to give credit to his staff, emphasizing the importance of delegating work with players to him.
“It’s important when you have Adam Foote, Sergei Gonchar, the [Sedin], [Mike] Yeo, I’d be crazy not to use them,” the pilot said.
Tocchet also highlighted the differences between this start to Hughes’ season and those of previous years.
“He said, ‘I need to have a good training camp and get off to a good start,’ and he took that into account,” Tocchet said.
“He’s in the Cale Makar category now. I’ve never seen a guy cross the blue line like Makar, but you have to add [Hughes]. The way he crosses that blue line is incredible. »