[Article] Canucks: Why there's increased goal potential in the dynamic Quinn Hughes

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Canucks: Why there's increased goal potential in the dynamic Quinn Hughes

 

Ben Kuzma 

 

 

Quickness has always been the ticket to patience, productivity and potential for Quinn Hughes.

 

The fleet-footed Vancouver Canucks captain relies on an innate ability to read and react with superlative split-second decisions at both ends of the ice. And that could add another dimension to his impressive minutes munching and multi-dimensional game with increased goals.

 

Hughes has relentlessly worked on his shot for velocity and accuracy to get it through a maze of legs from the point. However, the art of deception is another weapon in his arsenal to create better looks down low.

 

Improved strength allowed Hughes to muscle home a wrist shot for the opening goal Saturday in Florida, with Elias Pettersson providing the screen at the top of the crease. The blueliner also executed a quick shift-and-scurry move to the net and almost picked the high short side from a sharp angle.

Hughes slammed his stick in disgust because he had the Panthers prone with the timely trek to the net during a 5-3 victory that improved the Canucks’ record to 3-2-0.

 

Through his first five games, Hughes has five points (1-4), was third in shots among blueliners with 18, had a whopping 44 shot attempts — he has hit double digits in three outings — and was second in league plus-minute rating at plus-6.

 

However, Hughes has yet to reach double-digits in goals. His NHL career high of eight came in his 2019-20 rookie season and again in 2021-22. Last season, he had seven goals.

“Walking the blue-line and shooting, he’s got a couple of moves he worked on in the summer,” revealed Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “He worked on them a lot. He was on the ice a lot and worked on them more than people realize. They are a couple of things.”

Those “things” are top secret because Tocchet doesn’t want to alert the opposition in pre-scouts.

 

“I’m not going to tell you, but stuff that’s world class,” he added.

It’s not a stretch to suggest that Canucks assistant coach Sergei Gonchar has had an impact because Hughes was anxious to work with the former standout defenceman.

Gonchar’s book of work can add to the total player package.

 

In the 1998-99 season with the Washington Capitals, Gonchar became the first Russian defenceman to score 20 goals. He followed up his 21 goals that campaign by reaching the 50-point plateau the following season with 54.

 

He would establish career highs in goals (26) and points (67) in a season and hit the 50-point mark eight times.

The will to constantly improve has only increased Tocchet’s appreciation of Hughes, who is once again is logging major minutes and never complains. He has played 21:38, 25:32, 25:58, 26:19 and 25:30 to start this season in a pairing with savvy veteran Filip Hronek, which also triggers more offensive potential.

“And also when he defends, it’s with quickness and it’s OK. You can still win a Norris Trophy by defending with quickness and you don’t have to kill people in the corner.

 

“I’m not trying to put pressure on him because he defends well, but his capability of walking the blue-line is outstanding. Huggy has a little chip on his shoulder that he can’t defend. I like that. If we can, he’s out there the last minute of every period.”

 

The manner in which Hughes prepares in the off-season sets him apart…

 

link to rest of article:

https://apple.news/Ar1ZW9b_WRcSAofMfIm-1aQ

 

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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