On June 22, 2018, the Vancouver Canucks entire organization changed when they drafted Quinn Hughes seventh overall. Six seasons later, Hughes has become team captain and is arguably the greatest defenceman in franchise history.

As the 2024 NHL Entry Draft approaches, The Hockey News, in partnership with Upper Deck, is back at each team's best active homegrown player. While a few players come to mind for the Vancouver Canucks, captain Quinn Hughes is the obvious choice. Initially drafted seventh overall in 2018, he has developed into not just one of the best defensemen in the NHL but in franchise history.

Despite having only played 365 career games, Hughes holds multiple franchise records. This season, he became the first defenceman in the franchise to surpass the 80-point mark, recording 92 points. Hughes also sits tied for second in career assists by a Canucks defenceman with 290 and has sole possession of second for career points by a defenceman with 333. 

This season, Hughes also became the first player in franchise history to be nominated for the Norris Trophy. Hughes led all defenceman with 92 points during the 2023-24 campaign while finishing fourth in the league with 75 assists. Hughes also set a franchise record in plus/minus, as his +38 was the highest recorded ever by a Canucks player. 

Hughes also showed that he is ready to be a leader, not just on the ice but off it. Named captain before the season started, Hughes donated tickets to first responders for every home game this season. Named "Team 43", the initiative was a resounding success and allowed first responders from across B.C. to cheer on Vancouver from Rogers Arena. 

While Hughes was a top-ten pick, it can be argued that he has become one of the steals of the 2018 NHL Draft. Only Brady Tkachuk, who was drafted fourth overall, has more career points, while his .91 points per game rank first among players who have played at least five NHL games. Not only has he become a star in the NHL, he is arguably one of the Canucks best homegrown players in franchise history. 

Vancouver Canucks All-Time Greatest Homegrown Players:

Don Lever- 3rd Overall, 1972
Stan Smyl- 40th Overall, 1978
Patrik Sundström- 175th Overall, 1980
Petri Skriko- 157th Overall, 1981
Trevor Linden- 2nd Overall, 1988
Pavel Bure- 113th Overall, 1989
Mattias Öhlund- 13th Overall, 1994
Daniel Sedin- 2nd Overall, 1999
Henrik Sedin- 3rd Overall, 1999
Kevin Bieksa- 151th Overall, 2001
Ryan Kesler- 23rd Overall, 2003
Alex Edler- 91st Overall, 2004
Bo Horvat- 9th Overall, 2013
Thatcher Demko- 36th Overall, 2014
Brock Boeser- 23rd Overall, 2015
Elias Pettersson- 5th Overall, 2017

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