Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes opens up about his departure from Vancouver Canucks
Photo credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes opened up on Sunday evening about his departure from the Vancouver Canucks after being traded by the club on Friday.
We're in the second full day of the post-Quinn Hughes era for the Vancouver Canucks after Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford dealt him to the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
Hughes, who spent parts of eight seasons with the Vancouver Canucks including the last two as their captain, took to social media this weekend to thank the organization and the fans for their support from the moment he landed in the Lower Mainland all the way up until his departure.
"I am very proud to have played for the Vancouver Canucks for 7 years, I loved the passion in the city & it brought me some of the most exciting times of my life, living out my dream. What makes playing in Vancouver so special is the people, the city, and what the team means to them! I will always be proud to have represented the Canucks!
I want to thank Francesco Aquilini and the entire Aquilini family for everything they have done for me the last seven years, they have been first class and I will always be grateful to them. Thank you to Jim Rutherford and Adam Foote for their belief and mentorship. All the staff over the years for always being there for me. Thank you to my teammates, met some of my best friends." Quinn Hughes said on Instagram.
I want to thank Francesco Aquilini and the entire Aquilini family for everything they have done for me the last seven years, they have been first class and I will always be grateful to them. Thank you to Jim Rutherford and Adam Foote for their belief and mentorship. All the staff over the years for always being there for me. Thank you to my teammates, met some of my best friends." Quinn Hughes said on Instagram.
Quinn Hughes opens up on his departure from the Vancouver Canucks
Following Minnesota's 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday, where he picked up his first goal in a Wild uniform, Quinn Hughes met with the media and opened up about his departure from the Vancouver Canucks.
Hughes told reporters that he had a feeling last Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres was going to be his final game as a member of the Vancouver Canucks and that with how this season was going, it made sense to go in a different direction and for both sides to go their separate ways.
"I don't know what's out there, I don't have Twitter. There was some talks earlier this summer. You know, I love the guys [in Vancouver]. Some of the guys there are my best friends.
You want to be successful. So I came into the year open minded and wanted to make it work and obviously have a great year but, I just think, with the injuries and the direction it was going, it wasn't happening.
I think Jim knew where my head was at a little bit. And we got to talking, or, Jim & Pat got to talking and it kind of went from there." Hughes said according to Tyson Cole of Canucks Army.
You want to be successful. So I came into the year open minded and wanted to make it work and obviously have a great year but, I just think, with the injuries and the direction it was going, it wasn't happening.
I think Jim knew where my head was at a little bit. And we got to talking, or, Jim & Pat got to talking and it kind of went from there." Hughes said according to Tyson Cole of Canucks Army.
Hughes finished his time in Vancouver as the team's all-time leading point getter by a defenseman with 432 in 459 games, breaking several records along the way including most points by a defenseman in a single season in franchise history.
The 26-year-old blueliner is going to be missed big time in Vancouver, but it felt like a change of scenery was needed for the Orlando, Florida native and with the Canucks heading in the direction of a rebuild, parting ways now rather than waiting until the offseason was a smart decision by Allvin, Rutherford and Co.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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DECEMBRE 15|2320 ANSWERS Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes opens up about his departure from Vancouver Canucks Do you think the Minnesota Wild could be a good fit for Quinn Hughes long-term? | ||
| Yes | 1564 | 67.4 % |
| No | 756 | 32.6 % |
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