With Kaprizov sidelined, Hughes embraces increased leadership responsibilities, stepping into an alternate captain role and commanding the blue line.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — In the Minnesota Wild's (39-19-12) loss against the Chicago Blackhawks (26-30-12) on Thursday, something was a little different for Quinn Hughes.
With an injury to Kirill Kaprizov, Hughes was one of the Wild's alternate captains along with Mats Zuccarello.
Kaprizov and Marcus Foligno are the two regulars. When Foligno got hurt, Joel Eriksson Ek took over the 'A' patch on his jersey. Then he got hurt so Zuccarello took over.
On Thursday, Kaprizov did not play with a lower-body injury which meant another 'A' was to be dished out. It went onto Hughes' jersey.
It came on a night where Hughes was paired alongside Jared Spurgeon after playing every game following the trade to Minnesota, with Brock Faber.
The change provided a change for the two. But Hughes was paired with another elite defenseman. Jared Spurgeon.
“He’s a special player,” Spurgeon said. “I think a little different than playing with some guys in the past. But just try and talk it out as much as possible. But obviously a world-class player.”
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