Quinn Hughes knows he may be discounted because of his age, but the Vancouver Canucks害羞草研究所� newest captain is determined to show his worth as a leader.
The Canucks named the defenceman as their 15th captain in franchise history.
Hughes is the first defenceman to hold the honour for Vancouver since a three-player rotation during the 1990-91 season that included blue-liner Doug Lidster.
The last full-time defenceman to don the 害羞草研究所淐害羞草研究所� in Vancouver was Kevin McCarthy from 1979 to 1982.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an incredible honour, it害羞草研究所檚 something I never dreamt of,害羞草研究所� said Hughes at a press conference introducing him as the newest captain in franchise history.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 never going to be the loudest guy in the room. I害羞草研究所檓 hopefully going to be a guy who害羞草研究所檚 a leader through his work ethic and as time goes on, learn more and more about myself and being a leader.害羞草研究所�
Forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller along with goaltender Thatcher Demko 害羞草研究所� who with Hughes act as the team害羞草研究所檚 leadership group 害羞草研究所� were in contention for the vacant position, but Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said Hughes displayed qualities he was seeking in a captain.
害羞草研究所淗e mixes with everybody. As a captain you mix in with everybody. He said some uncomfortable things he had to say when some things didn害羞草研究所檛 go well or even put himself out there,害羞草研究所� said Tocchet. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 what I like about this leadership group, they害羞草研究所檙e not afraid to say something to me.害羞草研究所�
Hughes served as an assistant captain for the first time during the 2022-23 season, during which the 23-year-old recorded seven goals and 69 assists in 78 games.
The Canucks normally announce a captain with fanfare at a home game, with former team captains and alumni in attendance.
By contrast, Hughes害羞草研究所� press conference was an understated affair, held on a Monday morning with little warning ahead of time, which was purposeful said general manager Patrik Allvin.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 been a lot of respect to captains here in the past but we wanted to get off to a fresh start here, turning the page and building on the momentum of last year. And that害羞草研究所檚 why we want to embrace a new leadership group here and the captain prior to training camp,害羞草研究所� said Allvin.
Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Demko, Miller and Pettersson were all in attendance at the press conference.
Allvin and Tocchet both stressed the role of a leadership group helping Hughes, who is the second youngest NHL captain behind 23-year-old Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.
Hughes said he害羞草研究所檚 confident he has a group of coaches and players in Vancouver and elsewhere in the league that he can lean on for advice as he grows into his role.
害羞草研究所淚 never want to be a guy who stops learning 害羞草研究所� just talking to Brady yesterday and I don害羞草研究所檛 know if there害羞草研究所檚 another guy who害羞草研究所檚 in my shoes, he害羞草研究所檚 a young guy in Canadian market and he害羞草研究所檚 captain and we grew up together,害羞草研究所� he said.
Hughes also referred to talking to his brothers 害羞草研究所� Jack and Luke Hughes, who play for the New Jersey Devils 害羞草研究所� along with Tocchet and assistant coach Adam Foote.
Hughes was a first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2018 draft by the Canucks. He has 241 points (26 goals, 215 assists) in 283 career games.
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