Quinn Hughes knows he may be discounted because of his age, but the Vancouver Canucks鈥� 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 鈥淐鈥� in Vancouver was Kevin McCarthy from 1979 to 1982.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible honour, it鈥檚 something I never dreamt of,鈥� said Hughes at a press conference introducing him as the newest captain in franchise history.
鈥淚鈥檓 never going to be the loudest guy in the room. I鈥檓 hopefully going to be a guy who鈥檚 a leader through his work ethic and as time goes on, learn more and more about myself and being a leader.鈥�
Forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller along with goaltender Thatcher Demko 鈥� who with Hughes act as the team鈥檚 leadership group 鈥� were in contention for the vacant position, but Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said Hughes displayed qualities he was seeking in a captain.
鈥淗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鈥檛 go well or even put himself out there,鈥� said Tocchet. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I like about this leadership group, they鈥檙e not afraid to say something to me.鈥�
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鈥� 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.
鈥淭here鈥檚 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鈥檚 why we want to embrace a new leadership group here and the captain prior to training camp,鈥� 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淚 never want to be a guy who stops learning 鈥� just talking to Brady yesterday and I don鈥檛 know if there鈥檚 another guy who鈥檚 in my shoes, he鈥檚 a young guy in Canadian market and he鈥檚 captain and we grew up together,鈥� he said.
Hughes also referred to talking to his brothers 鈥� Jack and Luke Hughes, who play for the New Jersey Devils 鈥� 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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