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NHL analyst Rick Dhaliwal has shed new light on why Quinn Hughes walked away from the Vancouver Canucks, revealing growing frustration inside the organization before his blockbuster trade.
The Canucks traded Hughes to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12, in a major move aimed at reshaping the roster. At the time, Vancouver sat near the bottom of the standings and faced uncertainty about Hughes’ long-term future. Management believed moving him early would bring maximum return as part of a rebuild.
Off the ice, tensions also played a role. Reports of locker room issues (the J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson controversy) and inconsistent performances created a difficult environment. Hughes tried to keep standards high, but the situation around him did not improve.
MORE: Quinn Hughes faces backlash over remarks on ex-Canucks teammates
Dhaliwal reported that Hughes had grown ‘tired of’ how the franchise handled their important figures. He pointed to the treatment of former coach Bruce Boudreau, former coach Rick Tocchet, and goalie coach Ian Clark.
So, Hughes closely observed these moments and became increasingly uneasy with the direction of the team.
“[Quinn Hughes] saw them treat Boudreau bad,” Dhaliwal said. “He said that Rick Tocchet was his favorite coach. He watched Tocchet walk. He has seen the treatment of Ian Clark. He has seen the treatment of other people in the organization. He got tired of all that stuff. It was time to leave.”
Despite the circumstances, Hughes maintained a composed stance after the move. In comments shared via The Athletic, he said he felt at peace with how things ended. He stressed that he gave everything during his time in Vancouver, even through difficult seasons and off-ice distractions.
“I’m at peace with everything,” Hughes said. “I know I gave everything I had in Vancouver. Go look at the years prior, too, when there was all sorts of nonsense going on, and I know I was always doing everything I could to make sure my game was in a good place and elevating it for the team.
“I tried to do that again this year. I had a great summer, and it just didn’t happen.”
Minnesota Wild defensemen Quinn Hughes (43) at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
On the ice, Hughes continues to perform at an elite level in Minnesota. He has scored 6 goals and has 68 assists for 74 points in 71 games. So, he is once again among the league’s top defensemen. His impact has helped the Wild secure a playoff spot, while Vancouver has struggled beyond expectations and is placed last in the league.
Dhaliwal’s comments show a deeper issue within the Canucks setup. So, for Hughes, the decision to move on was not sudden, but the result of growing frustration over time.
Continue reading...
The Canucks traded Hughes to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12, in a major move aimed at reshaping the roster. At the time, Vancouver sat near the bottom of the standings and faced uncertainty about Hughes’ long-term future. Management believed moving him early would bring maximum return as part of a rebuild.
Off the ice, tensions also played a role. Reports of locker room issues (the J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson controversy) and inconsistent performances created a difficult environment. Hughes tried to keep standards high, but the situation around him did not improve.
MORE: Quinn Hughes faces backlash over remarks on ex-Canucks teammates
Dhaliwal reported that Hughes had grown ‘tired of’ how the franchise handled their important figures. He pointed to the treatment of former coach Bruce Boudreau, former coach Rick Tocchet, and goalie coach Ian Clark.
So, Hughes closely observed these moments and became increasingly uneasy with the direction of the team.
“[Quinn Hughes] saw them treat Boudreau bad,” Dhaliwal said. “He said that Rick Tocchet was his favorite coach. He watched Tocchet walk. He has seen the treatment of Ian Clark. He has seen the treatment of other people in the organization. He got tired of all that stuff. It was time to leave.”
Quinn Hughes’ comments on his Canucks exit
Despite the circumstances, Hughes maintained a composed stance after the move. In comments shared via The Athletic, he said he felt at peace with how things ended. He stressed that he gave everything during his time in Vancouver, even through difficult seasons and off-ice distractions.
“I’m at peace with everything,” Hughes said. “I know I gave everything I had in Vancouver. Go look at the years prior, too, when there was all sorts of nonsense going on, and I know I was always doing everything I could to make sure my game was in a good place and elevating it for the team.
“I tried to do that again this year. I had a great summer, and it just didn’t happen.”
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Minnesota Wild defensemen Quinn Hughes (43) at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
On the ice, Hughes continues to perform at an elite level in Minnesota. He has scored 6 goals and has 68 assists for 74 points in 71 games. So, he is once again among the league’s top defensemen. His impact has helped the Wild secure a playoff spot, while Vancouver has struggled beyond expectations and is placed last in the league.
Dhaliwal’s comments show a deeper issue within the Canucks setup. So, for Hughes, the decision to move on was not sudden, but the result of growing frustration over time.
Continue reading...
