Quintin Hughes was born on October 14, 1999 in Orlando, Florida. If one thing is for certain, it’s that Quinn was meant to play hockey—it’s in his DNA. Quinn’s mother, Ellen, played for the American Women’s National Team, and his father, Jim, was most notably the Director of Player Development for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although Quinn was born in Florida, he was raised in Boston and Toronto due to his father’s career.
It was in 2006 when the Hughes’ family moved to Toronto. Quinn was obsessed with hockey at an early age. Quinn started his hockey journey as a forward and did not transition to playing defenseman until he was thirteen. His minor hockey team, the Toronto Marlboros, was well-known around the minor hockey circuit and Quinn quickly garnered a lot of attention for his skating and play-making abilities.
Quinn had a choice to make early into his career, the USNTDP/College program or join the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. Sarnia had drafted Hughes in the 3rd round of the 2015 OHL Draft and while it was a consideration, Hughes opted for the US Development Team. Before joining the program, he verbally committed to join the Michigan Wolverines starting in 2017.
Hughes’ roommate throughout his time in the development program was Brady Tkachuk. Both players had lots of success in the program. In Hughes’ first year, he impressed with 7-goals and 24-points in 57-games. In the 2016-17 season, Hughes set a USHL record for the highest points-per-game ratio at two-years prior to draft eligibility with 26-points in 26-games. Hughes was recognized as a part of the All-USHL 2nd Team that season.
Hughes then joined Michigan in the fall of 2017. His major was Sports Management and while he may have been great in that field, he was a true talent in hockey. In his freshman season, Hughes was the youngest male NCAA hockey player, but that didn’t stop him from scoring 5-goals and 29-points in 37-games. His 24-assists were the most by a freshman in Michigan’s program history. He was also recognized on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Hughes was a top prospect in the upcoming 2018 NHL entry draft. Although he was undersized, scouts recognized his incredible skating and playmaking abilities. He was ranked 6th by the NA Central Scouting Bureau going into the draft. After Montreal and Arizona both reached for a center and his former roommate Brady Tkachuk was selected 4th overall, Hughes somewhat miraculously fell to the Vancouver Canucks at 7th overall. Then GM, Jim Benning, referred to selecting Hughes as a home run.
“We knew that if teams wanted a defenceman that Quinn could go (before us),” said Benning. “That’s why when he was there I was so happy because from the picks ahead of us to where we picked it felt like forever.”
While Hughes attended the Canucks development camp in the summer, he came to the decision to return to Michigan for his sophomore season. In 31-games, Hughes scored 5-goals and had 33-points with Michigan. Although Hughes intended to win a championship with Michigan, the Wolverines fell short. Hughes was recognized once again as All-Big Ten First Team, AHCA All-American First Team, and was also nominated for the Hobey Baker Award & Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Hughes then ended his collegiate career and signed his entry-level contract with the Canucks on March 10, 2019.
After recovering from a foot injury he sustained in Michigan, Hughes played 5-games with the Canucks recording 3-points while averaging 18-minutes per game.
In 2019-20, Hughes had quite the rookie season. He immediately cemented his status on the first unit power play alongside JT Miller and Brock Boeser. Hughes scored his first NHL goal in Vancouver’s home opener against the LA Kings. In a November game against the Predators, Hughes made NHL history as the first rookie defenseman to register 3 Power-Play Assists in a single game. On January 11, Hughes became the sixth fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 30-assists. He was then voted into the NHL all-star game and became the 2nd rookie defenseman in NHL history to score a goal in the game.
After the All-Star break, Hughes continued to smash records. He broke Brock Boeser’s franchise record of most power play points by a rookie. Then Hughes set the team record for most assists by a rookie with 43. He was named NHL rookie of the month in February and then a month later COVID had completely halted the season. Once hockey resumed and the regular season was completed, Hughes was first amongst rookies in points. He was the 3rd rookie defenseman to lead his class since Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch.
During the playoff bubble, Hughes became the sixth youngest defenseman to register three-assists in a playoff game. Hughes then set an NHL record for most playoff assists as a rookie with 13-assists in 15-games. Vancouver was eventually eliminated by Vegas in a 7-game series. While Hughes was recognized as a Calder Trophy nominee, he ultimately finished 2nd in voting to standout defenseman Cale Makar, but both defenseman were recognized as part of the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.
Hughes followed up his rookie campaign with 38-assists and 41-points in a shortened 56-game season where Vancouver competed in the one-off North Division due to COVID Restrictions.
23rd all time already?
It’s like he’s staring into my soul asking why I haven’t tried harder to snag an adidas huggy jersey before it’s too late.
Who?
Already?
Might just be the coldest Pic of a canuck of all time
The squad got some valuable playoff experience last year and did pretty well for a mostly inexperienced playoff team. Really pumped for what this season can bring!
That man has murder in his eyes
Quinn Hughes is a great Canuck or the Greatest Canuck?
Mind blowing that he has more than Cliffy
That will change pretty quickly … should be top 15 by seasons end and might even catch Edler for highst scoring d man in team history.
What else is also wild to think about? Garland will crack top 50 all time scoring this year and petey will probably hit top 6 surpassing bure. Although bure will have done it in less games.
12 comments
23. Quinn Hughes — 365GP | 43G | 290A | 333P 2019-Present
Quintin Hughes was born on October 14, 1999 in Orlando, Florida. If one thing is for certain, it’s that Quinn was meant to play hockey—it’s in his DNA. Quinn’s mother, Ellen, played for the American Women’s National Team, and his father, Jim, was most notably the Director of Player Development for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although Quinn was born in Florida, he was raised in Boston and Toronto due to his father’s career.
It was in 2006 when the Hughes’ family moved to Toronto. Quinn was obsessed with hockey at an early age. Quinn started his hockey journey as a forward and did not transition to playing defenseman until he was thirteen. His minor hockey team, the Toronto Marlboros, was well-known around the minor hockey circuit and Quinn quickly garnered a lot of attention for his skating and play-making abilities.
Quinn had a choice to make early into his career, the USNTDP/College program or join the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. Sarnia had drafted Hughes in the 3rd round of the 2015 OHL Draft and while it was a consideration, Hughes opted for the US Development Team. Before joining the program, he verbally committed to join the Michigan Wolverines starting in 2017.
Hughes’ roommate throughout his time in the development program was Brady Tkachuk. Both players had lots of success in the program. In Hughes’ first year, he impressed with 7-goals and 24-points in 57-games. In the 2016-17 season, Hughes set a USHL record for the highest points-per-game ratio at two-years prior to draft eligibility with 26-points in 26-games. Hughes was recognized as a part of the All-USHL 2nd Team that season.
Hughes then joined Michigan in the fall of 2017. His major was Sports Management and while he may have been great in that field, he was a true talent in hockey. In his freshman season, Hughes was the youngest male NCAA hockey player, but that didn’t stop him from scoring 5-goals and 29-points in 37-games. His 24-assists were the most by a freshman in Michigan’s program history. He was also recognized on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Hughes was a top prospect in the upcoming 2018 NHL entry draft. Although he was undersized, scouts recognized his incredible skating and playmaking abilities. He was ranked 6th by the NA Central Scouting Bureau going into the draft. After Montreal and Arizona both reached for a center and his former roommate Brady Tkachuk was selected 4th overall, Hughes somewhat miraculously fell to the Vancouver Canucks at 7th overall. Then GM, Jim Benning, referred to selecting Hughes as a home run.
“We knew that if teams wanted a defenceman that Quinn could go (before us),” said Benning. “That’s why when he was there I was so happy because from the picks ahead of us to where we picked it felt like forever.”
While Hughes attended the Canucks development camp in the summer, he came to the decision to return to Michigan for his sophomore season. In 31-games, Hughes scored 5-goals and had 33-points with Michigan. Although Hughes intended to win a championship with Michigan, the Wolverines fell short. Hughes was recognized once again as All-Big Ten First Team, AHCA All-American First Team, and was also nominated for the Hobey Baker Award & Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Hughes then ended his collegiate career and signed his entry-level contract with the Canucks on March 10, 2019.
After recovering from a foot injury he sustained in Michigan, Hughes played 5-games with the Canucks recording 3-points while averaging 18-minutes per game.
In 2019-20, Hughes had quite the rookie season. He immediately cemented his status on the first unit power play alongside JT Miller and Brock Boeser. Hughes scored his first NHL goal in Vancouver’s home opener against the LA Kings. In a November game against the Predators, Hughes made NHL history as the first rookie defenseman to register 3 Power-Play Assists in a single game. On January 11, Hughes became the sixth fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 30-assists. He was then voted into the NHL all-star game and became the 2nd rookie defenseman in NHL history to score a goal in the game.
After the All-Star break, Hughes continued to smash records. He broke Brock Boeser’s franchise record of most power play points by a rookie. Then Hughes set the team record for most assists by a rookie with 43. He was named NHL rookie of the month in February and then a month later COVID had completely halted the season. Once hockey resumed and the regular season was completed, Hughes was first amongst rookies in points. He was the 3rd rookie defenseman to lead his class since Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch.
During the playoff bubble, Hughes became the sixth youngest defenseman to register three-assists in a playoff game. Hughes then set an NHL record for most playoff assists as a rookie with 13-assists in 15-games. Vancouver was eventually eliminated by Vegas in a 7-game series. While Hughes was recognized as a Calder Trophy nominee, he ultimately finished 2nd in voting to standout defenseman Cale Makar, but both defenseman were recognized as part of the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.
Hughes followed up his rookie campaign with 38-assists and 41-points in a shortened 56-game season where Vancouver competed in the one-off North Division due to COVID Restrictions.
23rd all time already?
It’s like he’s staring into my soul asking why I haven’t tried harder to snag an adidas huggy jersey before it’s too late.
Who?
Already?
Might just be the coldest Pic of a canuck of all time
The squad got some valuable playoff experience last year and did pretty well for a mostly inexperienced playoff team. Really pumped for what this season can bring!
That man has murder in his eyes
Quinn Hughes is a great Canuck or the Greatest Canuck?
Mind blowing that he has more than Cliffy
That will change pretty quickly … should be top 15 by seasons end and might even catch Edler for highst scoring d man in team history.
What else is also wild to think about? Garland will crack top 50 all time scoring this year and petey will probably hit top 6 surpassing bure. Although bure will have done it in less games.