Quinn Hughes clearly wasn’t satisfied with winning the Norris.
Not only has the Canucks defender solidified himself as an early NHL MVP candidate, but he joined some rarified company during a 5-1 Vancouver Canucks win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
Hughes picked up an assist on three of the five Canucks goals, giving him 300 assists in his so-far illustrious career.
It took him just 376 games to get to 300 career assists, making him the third fastest defenceman in NHL history to get to that mark. Only Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch got to that mark faster.
Fastest defencemen to 300 career assists, NHL history
Bobby Orr (346 games)
Brian Leetch (368 games)#Canucks Quinn Hughes (376 games)
Paul Coffey (377 games) pic.twitter.com/qzn1IV7sD5— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) November 6, 2024
“Obviously I’m very fortunate, it’s been a lot of fun playing here in Vancouver,” Hughes told Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy after the game. “I’ve made a lot of great friendships and I’ve played with a lot of great players. There’s a lot of people that have contributed to that.”
“I’m glad Petey got that because that doesn’t go in without him standing in front. That was a great screen.”
Quinn Hughes lets it rip. 👊 pic.twitter.com/YQtKIOxkAd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 6, 2024
“I just feel very fortunate and lucky to have the great teammates I’ve had. It’s been a fun six years.”
The Canucks had perhaps one of their biggest whiffs at the NHL Entry Draft back in 1986. They selected Dan Woodley seventh overall, who played five career NHL games.
Leetch went ninth overall to the New York Rangers. He would go on to post more than 1000 NHL points, along with leading the Rangers to a Stanley Cup win over the Canucks in 1994.
The Canucks have been one of the most cursed franchises in NHL history. It isn’t a hyperbole to say that drafting Hughes seventh overall in 2018 may go down as one og the greatest moments in club history.
Canucks’ Lankinen chasing Captain Kirk
Thatcher, who?
Okay, no one has forgotten about Thatcher Demko, who was runner-up for the Vezina Trophy last season, but Kevin Lankinen has more than eased the pain of his absence.
Lankinen stopped 21 of 22 shots in Vancouver’s win over the Ducks on Tuesday night.
“He’s been fantastic,” Hughes said postgame. “It’s not easy missing a Vezina goalie, and Demmer’s not only fantastic and one of the best goalies in the league, but he’s a fantastic person. He’s a leader on this team.
“For Kevin to come in here and step up and be a rock for us, it’s been great and Arty’s been great too. We’ve got a great tandem.”
This has been one of the best starts by any Canucks goaltender in franchise history. With the win on Tuesday night, Lankinen has now picked up points in each of his first eight starts this season (6-0-2).
He’s one game away from tying a franchise record set by Kirk McLean, who picked up at least a point in nine straight games to begin the 1991-92 season (8-0-1).
The longest point streak by a Canucks goaltender at any point of the season was set by Roberto Luongo. The Hall of Famer had a whopping 21-game point streak in the middle of the 2010-11 season.
More to come…