What Hughes said after disappointing Vancouver Canucks season ends
Saying this was a difficult season for the Vancouver Canucks would be putting it lightly.
The club entered the year with Stanley Cup aspirations and fizzled out without even making the playoffs. As the clock mercifully ticked down on a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 82, the Canucks’ 2024-25 season officially came to an end.
Quinn Hughes has been one of the bright spots this year. On many nights, he was the sole reason worth watching the Canucks. Yet after the buzzer sounded on the 2024-25 season, he wasn’t ready to move on from the failures or even admit he was looking forward to getting some rest.
“It’s just been such a disappointing year that it’s kinda like not even [looking] ahead to anything,” he said. “Just gonna go home, enjoy myself, probably put my phone away and see what happens.”
“Definitely take some time off.”
While he’ll surely get some rest in, it undoubtedly won’t be long before the captain is back on the ice. Hughes’ summer workouts have become legendary. He’s attended offseason sessions at his home in Michigan, working outside beside his brothers and other NHL stars like Macklin Celebrini and Roman Josi.
Just a few years ago, Hughes’ shot was considered a weakness. Over the course of a few summers, he’s transformed it into a strength, and he’s scored 33 goals across the past two seasons.
With the IIHF World Championships approaching, there could be a chance to play more organized hockey. However, when asked if he would go if Team USA asked, Hughes said, “I don’t think so, no.”
While there were many highlights for Hughes this year, there was one mark that he fell just short of. He tied the Canucks all-time franchise record for points by a defenceman but couldn’t break it, failing to register a point against the Golden Knights. That wasn’t for a lack of trying, as he came out of the gates flying, he just couldn’t seem to get that last point.
“I’m a competitive guy, so coming into the year, I knew the number for sure that I needed to get to. In my mind, there’s no reason I shouldn’t get there. I tried my best; it’s been a long year. Whether it’s today or whenever it happens, that’ll be the case.
“It wasn’t my number one focal point. It would’ve just been a nice milestone. As far as some of the other things that happened here, I think that’s more on my mind, where that’s more upsetting, some other things than that record.”
It’s only a matter of time before Hughes breaks that record. For now, he’s got a big summer ahead where he’ll surely be working hard to ensure the Canucks challenge for a playoff spot next year.