Tyler Myers has had a front-row seat in watching Quinn Hughes develop from a top prospect to a Norris Trophy winner.
Tyler Myers has had a front-row seat in watching Quinn Hughes develop from a top prospect to a Norris Trophy winner.
Over his nearly 1,000-game career, Tyler Myers has watched many players develop into stars. One of those players is Quinn Hughes, who is now entering his second season as the Vancouver Canucks captain. While it will be hard for Hughes to beat his 2023-24 campaign, which included winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy, Myers feels his young captain is going to continue to get better, both on the ice and as a leader.
Myers has been on the same team as Hughes for virtually the entire time the Canucks captain has been in the NHL. Hughes' first full season was 2019-20, which was also Myers' first with the organization. When asked about his first impressions of Hughes, Myers recalls watching him at the World Juniors and being impressed with Hughes' skating.
"I want to say I remember watching him at the World Juniors before I played with him here in Vancouver," said Myers. "The first thing that you notice is his skating ability. How quick he is on his edges. It looks like he floats on the ice, so you notice that right away. It's something you notice immediately. I think, for him, being so young, he's grown so much as a player beyond how dynamic he is, and I honestly don't think he even gets enough credit for that part of it."
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Last September was a special moment not just for Hughes but the entire organization, as he was named the 15th captain in franchise history. Being a 24-year-old captain is not easy, especially in a Canadian market like Vancouver. As Myers explains, while it took some time, Hughes eventually found his voice and became a more vocal leader in the locker room.
"You can see him and feel him getting more vocal as the year went on. His voice commanded the room more and more. I think that in the role he took on last year, he felt more comfortable speaking up and holding more guys accountable, which was awesome to see as a young guy and as a leader of the team. I'm excited to see him grow even further this year."
Looking back, it is clear Hughes was ready to embrace the challenge. He had the greatest season by a defenceman in franchise history. As mentioned, he won the Norris Trophy and set a new franchise record for defencemen with 92 points. When Myers, who won the Calder Memorial Trophy back in 2010, was asked about Hughes' career year, he explained that it wasn't just the on-ice production but also how his captain grew as a leader that was impressive.
"It was pretty special to be able to watch him all year. Last year, a Norris-winning season. Led the back end here and then a run in the playoffs. We ultimately came up short, but I think it was a great step for our group, and he was leading the way. I think what you're going to see with Quinn is he's just going to take steps forward each and every year. That's all you want from a young captain. I'm glad he didn't come in last year and try to force everything in the room. I think growing into the role was a great approach for him. I think it helped him on the ice, and it was great to be around him."
Hughes has set very high expectations for himself for the 2024-25 season. After recording 17 goals last season, Hughes has mentioned multiple times that he thinks he can hit the 20 mark, which only one other defender in franchise history has accomplished. According to Myers, while it won't be easy, he has faith that Hughes can take his game to another level and set new career highs next season.
"Those numbers aren't ridiculous to say when it comes to Huggy. He should be aiming high. I think it drives you to be at your best. There's going to be individual goals, there's going to be team goals, and I think it's healthy for guys to do that and bring the best out of themselves."
This season is a great opportunity for the Canucks to show that they are going to be a contender for the foreseeable future. They have built one of the deepest rosters in the league and will once again lean on Hughes to lead them back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ultimately, it is clear the Canucks made the right choice when it came to selecting a captain, as Hughes looks ready to continue his development as a leader both on and off the ice.
