Vancouver Canucks superstar and reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes is dealing with a lower-body injury and won't travel to face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Vancouver Canucks superstar and reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes is dealing with a lower-body injury and won't travel to face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

"He's not going to make the trip. It's a day-to-day thing right now. He'll stay back and whether he skates tomorrow, we'll talk about that later today," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet told reporters.

Hughes is missing his third straight game with a lower-body injury. Hughes leads the Canucks in points (59) and is one of, if not the front-runner for the 2025 Norris Trophy. 

He's also slated to skate for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off next week with his brother Jack of the New Jersey Devils. 

"It's getting close. That's' a good question. It depends on the next 48 hours, I guess," Tocchet said about Hughes possibly missing the international tournament. "That's what it really comes down to, so we'll sit down with Quinn and talk to him."

The Canucks are slated to play on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it isn't a guarantee that Hughes will play then, either. Tocchet said that even if he doesn't play, that doesn't rule him out for the 4 Nations.

"It could be. [It] Depends on how close he is to playing on Saturday. That's really what it comes down to, but we're going to have a hard, long look at this," Tocchet said. "Like every player, you are concerned about safety and health and all that stuff."

Hughes is pushing to play at the 4 Nations tournament, but Tocchet and Hughes know a tough decision will have to be made if the injury persists. 

"It's tough. Look at [Alex] Pietrangelo; he made that decision [not to play]. It's a tough one because I know Quinn is a USA guy," Tocchet said. "He loves his country, play with his brother, there's lots of positives to it but he's a smart kid, he understands what's at stake too."

For the Sharks, not having to gameplan for Quinn Hughes is a significant strategy change as to what they will face. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST.

^{-- Adam Kierszenblat of THN's Vancouver Canucks site and Kevin Woodley of NHL.com contributed to this story by providing Rick Tocchet's quotes/audio.}

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