It’s tough for Vancouver Canucks fans to suppress their excitement for the future these days, especially considering how impressive Quinn Hughes looked over the course of his first five NHL appearances.
The blue-liner, drafted seventh overall by the Canucks in 2018, made his professional debut in late March after his season at the University of Michigan ended and Hughes performed well beyond his years.
The 19-year-old is now representing the United States at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship as he continues his development.
Hughes, who had three assists in his five NHL games with the Canucks, said his year-end meeting with Canucks head coach Travis Green in April went well and that the pair agreed on how Hughes can make improvements in the off-season.
“Coach Green’s been great with me,” Hughes told Sportsnet 650 Thursday. “I think the meeting was basically just about having a good summer and coming back to camp ready to go and he’s definitely 100 per cent right. I think I’ve got to have a big summer, get stronger and improve on whatever I can and then be ready to go in October.”
Hughes said he took a week off following the regular season, which helped him rest the ankle he injured earlier in the year, before getting back in the gym and stepping on the ice to prepare for the worlds.
Hughes is the older brother of Jack Hughes, the projected top pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and the siblings will be teammates (and roommates) on a roster that also boasts stars like Patrick Kane, Jack Eichel, Johnny Gaudreau, Dylan Larkin and Ryan Suter among others.
“We’re rooming together but we’re obviously learning anytime we can go to dinner with anyone I think it’s a great experience just to kind of see the wisdom and listen to them talk and stuff like that,” Hughes said. “Another reason why this tournament so good for not only me but [Jack].”
The elder Hughes competed at the 2018 worlds where he recorded two assists in 10 games.
The United States hasn’t won the tournament since 1933.
“I think everyone from USA Hockey wants to come over and just win that first gold medal,” Hughes added.
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