Canucks: How Chris Tanev paved way for Quinn Hughes to hit high gear

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Chris Tanev should have taken the over.

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Before the 2019-20 NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks’ veteran was asked to predict what plateau whiz-kid rookie blueline partner Quinn Hughes could reach.

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Tanev thought there was 40-point potential in the smooth-skating, quick thinking and laser like passing blueliner, but maybe not right away. Some day for sure.

That day came sooner than expected.

Hughes amassed 53 points (8-45) and finished second in Calder Trophy voting to Cale Makar. It laid a foundation to build a dynamic game that broke franchise records.

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The Canucks’ captain took a career-high 81 points (13-68) — which leads all NHL defenders — into Thursday’s tough test against the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars with a chance to clinch a playoff position.

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And make no mistake. Hughes has his fingerprints all over this remarkable season of redemption and rejuvenation, and none of that surprises Tanev.

“No, it doesn’t,” the Stars’ defender said following the morning skate. “He’s so skilled. Such a smart player and skates so well. Once we started to see that, you just knew he was going to be one of the best defencemen in the league, or at least in the top three in any given year.”

To ascend to that status, Hughes relied on a strong family sporting lineage and guidance from calm and influential Tanev. The undrafted and undaunted college free agent first made it to The Show and then showed Hughes the way by becoming a mentor and confidant.

“Chris is a special person and player because he’ll do whatever he can for the team,” said Hughes. “There are people out there who want to keep young guys down and push them down because they want to protect themselves, or maybe that’s how people were to them.

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“I’ve seen that, but Chris was the opposite. It’s what he could do for young guys to make them feel comfortable because it’s hard coming into an unfamiliar place with guys who are way older than you. There’s a lot of pressure and he just made me feel comfortable.

“He has a very good understanding of who he is as a person and doesn’t try to be anything else but himself. He’s just Chris. He’s just a chill guy.”

Run all this by Tanev and you get a shrug of the shoulders. He’s not accustomed to the spotlight and never sought it.

“It’s awesome to hear that stuff from Quinn and it’s humbling,” said Tanev. “I wouldn’t give myself that much credit. Whoever he played with, he was going to become a great player. I still have a great relationship with him. We talk quite a bit and bounce things off each other.”

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They initially talked about the rookie maximizing offence and not being exposed defensively. For Hughes to flourish, he needed a smart and savvy partner to ease the transition.

“He shielded me a bit and I really didn’t have to play too much defence,” recalled Hughes. “He was one of the best defenders, fed me pucks and we broke out nicely. He expedited my success in the first year. 

“If I didn’t have a parter who defended, or moved pucks as well as him, I’d be defending more and not in the O-zone as much. And even when you watch him now, he’s poised and patient.”

Hughes also came to learn that Tanev brought new meaning to paying the price. During a bitter 5-2 road loss to the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 27, 2020, he took one for the team and took on Bobby Ryan in his first of two career fights.

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When Tanev dropped in front of a Connor Brown shot, it didn’t looked good. He went down in a heap and it took a dozen stitches to close the grizzly gash. He played two nights later in Toronto.

“I believe the puck hit my stick and ricocheted to my head, but I’m not positive on that,” Tanev recalled. “The ear rings a little bit and once you realize it’s just a cut, you’re pretty happy.”

Then, there was the fight.

“We’re down 2-0 and he sort of took a little run at Quinn and then he hit me with no time left in the first period,” said Tanev. “I was a little upset we were losing.”

That’s Tanev. All in all the time.

As for Hughes, Tanev said the big separator is that Hughes the person is just as good as the player. After all, he’s 24 and captain of team under constant scrutiny in a hockey-mad market.

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“Very impressed,” said Tanev. “He’s still a young kid. And he’s always had such a good head on his shoulders, which is the biggest thing. Always calm and thinks about things before he reacts.”

Tanev is 34 and an unrestricted free agent and isn’t thinking about hanging up his skates. He wants to keep playing because there’s a lot of gas left in the competitive tank.

“Oh, yeah,” said Tanev. “I’ve got lots of time left in me. I just try to play and have fun. I want to win.”

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