Welcome to this edition of THN's Vancouver Canucks 2024-25 Report Card. This recurring 2025 off-season series features a deep dive into how each Canucks player performed last year. This article will focus on defenceman Quinn Hughes, who led the team with 76 points in 68 games.
Just like during the 2023-24 season, Hughes was the heartbeat of this year's team. As mentioned, he led all Vancouver skaters in points and was a finalist for the Norris Trophy. This year, Hughes also set the franchise record for assists in a career by a defenceman with 350, while his 409 career points are currently tied with Alex Edler for the most by a defender in Canucks history.
For the first half of the season, Hughes was in the conversation for league MVP. By the end of the 2024 calendar year, he had 42 points in 34 games, which ranked tied for 18th across the NHL. After a successful January, where he recorded 17 points in 13 games, Hughes experienced a significant injury, which not only kept him out of regular-season games but also the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Despite not being 100%, Hughes returned in late February to help push for a spot in the playoffs. While his injuries slowed him down a bit, he still was able to put up 17 points in 21 games, while leading Vancouver to within seven points of a post-season berth. In the end, Hughes showed his leadership skills on a nightly basis, as he found ways to step up both on and off the ice.
On top of having strong counting stats, Hughes's analytics were amongst the best on the Canucks. He finished the season with a 52.80 Goals For Percentage at even strength while leading the team in Wins Above Replacement at 2.8. Ultimately, Vancouver's offence ran through Hughes, with the team struggling to produce when he was either out of the lineup or not on the ice.
While Hughes was impressive on the ice, the way he stepped up off the ice needs to be recognized. During the Miller/Pettersson feud, the Canucks captain faced the media and acknowledged the reports of a locker room issue rather than pretending that the problem was fabricated. Ultimately, this moment stood out, showing that even though Hughes is one of the youngest captains in the NHL, he is ready to step up and handle one of the most intense markets in the league.
When it comes to letter grades for the season, Hughes easily earns an A+. He was Vancouver's best player throughout the season and showed that he can be a leader both on and off the ice. Based on his year-over-year improvement, there is little doubt that Hughes will be one of the best players in the NHL during the 2025-26 season.
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