Kevin Bieksa gives backhanded energy while commenting on Quinn Hughes' legacy with the Vancouver Canucks
Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks
Former defenseman Kevin Bieksa has given his thoughts on Quinn Hughes' legacy with the Vancouver Canucks following his trade to the Minnesota Wild late last week.
Friday was one of the most difficult days imaginable for the Vancouver Canucks organization as the club traded away captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, which came as a surprise to many, with teams like the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils reported to be among the most aggressive in the sweepstakes.
Given the circumstances, the Vancouver Canucks did quite well with the return in the Quinn Hughes trade, with the two most notable pieces in Minnesota's package being Marco Rossi, who will assume the 2C role, while Zeev Buium has the potential to be the team's top defenseman for many years to come.
Ever since he arrived in Vancouver, Quinn Hughes gave his all night in, night out, and ended up becoming the franchise's all-time leader in points by a defenseman, passing Alexander Edler for that honour earlier this season and will certainly be remembered as one of the best blueliners the history of the Canucks organization.
Kevin Bieksa gives his thoughts on Quinn Hughes' legacy with Vancouver Canucks
During the intermission on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, former Vancouver Canucks and National Hockey League defenseman Kevin Bieksa shared his thoughts on what Quinn Hughes' legacy will be in the Lower Mainland.
"I was on an Air Canada flight when the trade broke and I was like, wow. Great return. So first, Quinn. His legacy in Vancouver will be that he raised the bar for Canucks defenseman. Greatest defenseman ever. Only Norris Trophy winner." Bieksa said.
Defensemen like Quinn Hughes don't grow on trees and are extremely rare, only to be found through the draft and developed in-house, and while there's no comparing the two, the Vancouver Canucks did a great job of bringing Zeev Buium to the club in Friday's trade, something Bieksa touched on as well.
"Zeev Buium though, getting him back, fans don't really know, he's one of these new age, ultra confident kids. Not a kid who is like kind of nervous, maybe tiptoeing in, he wants to be on the ice 25 minutes a night, he wants to make plays, he's a little bit bigger than Quinn and he's going to defend pretty good and pretty hard. But his offensive upside. I mean, how can you say someone is going to be like Quinn Hughes, he's going to get pretty close and he's going to make Canucks fans forget about Quinn fairly quickly. I think this kid will be very interesting to watch and I think you'll see short-term results." Bieksa said.
While it might sting right now for Vancouver Canucks fans, the club is going to reap the rewards of the return they got very, very soon as Rossi and Buium are going to be very important players for this team for years to come, as will Liam Ohgren, albeit in a lesser role.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 15|3055 ANSWERS Kevin Bieksa gives backhanded energy while commenting on Quinn Hughes' legacy with the Vancouver Canucks Do you think Quinn Hughes will be remembered for being the best defenseman in franchise history? | ||
| Yes | 1893 | 62 % |
| No, he'll be remembered for wanting to leave | 1162 | 38 % |
| List of polls | ||