Quinn Hughes returns from COVID-19 protocol to power pace of play

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While under continuous siege, an exit strategy for the exhausted Vancouver Canucks has been those high lobs of pucks into the neutral zone.

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Not the most attractive, creative or effective means for an offensively challenged club to escape the forecheck and generate offense. It looked like a sign of surrender.

It often occurred during the last three games as a result of Quinn Hughes in COVID-19 quarantine in the US It was a stark reminder of how the speedy, fast-thinking and quick-passing defenseman can alleviate pressure with a quick pivot and then unleash that long lead tape-to-tape pass to spring forwards.

That hasn’t happened since Feb. 1 at Nashville where he logged 26:46 of ice time in a 4-2 victory over the Predators.

Hughes is expected to play Thursday in San Jose, and while concern is customary about any player trying to shake virus symptoms and find his game in quick order, this is no ordinary player. He constantly works at his craft from him to keep pushing the performance bar.

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Hughes has been skating and working out and Bruce Boudreau wouldn’t be surprised if the 22-year-old whiz doesn’t miss a beat against the Sharks.

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Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks
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“Something tells me that there are some people in this world who can’t take one day off,” said the Canucks’ coach. “Some can take maybe 16 days off and just be great because they are great. I’m hoping Quinn is in that category.”

It’s a good bet because Hughes gobbles up ice time like he’s at a buffet.

He logged a career-high 31:07 on Jan. 29 at Calgary and has been over 26 minutes in seven of his last eight outings. He’s second in club scoring with 34 points (2-32) and his plus-10 rating for him is the product of improved defensive play and better overall awareness. And his 17 power-play assists from him rank fourth among NHL peers.

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Sometimes, you lose perspective because what Hughes does on a nightly basis has become commonplace. It’s when the opposition gets the full dose of the defender that the appreciation needle swings from impressed to amazed.

Matthew Highmore, who also returns Thursday from COVID, has good wheels. However, when he faced Hughes two years ago while with the Chicago Blackhawks and had to chase the elusive blueliner, it was a real eye-opener.

After all, how do you forecheck a guy who can break your ankles with a quick spin out of trouble that’s supported by sublime edge work?

“I played against him in this building (Rogers Arena) and couldn’t believe his ability to escape checks to make an exit play out of the D-zone,” Highmore said Wednesday. “So, I’m not necessarily surprised (now) because he just continues to get better. He’s such a key part to our defense corps and he is really a special player.

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Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a points push in the absence of Hughes and also anchored the first power-play unit. His five points (1-4) in the last three games are about opportunity with two man-advantage assists — he played 6:01 on the power pay Saturday against Toronto and finished with a season-high 25:31 — and getting more shots through from the point.

He had eight shots and a dozen more either blocked or missed the mark during that run but knows what it will mean to have Hughes back.

“A big part of the organization and an unbelievable player,” said Ekman-Larsson. “You appreciate him more when he’s part of your team with the way he can move the puck and skate. It’s pretty impressive.

“I didn’t expect him to be this good in the D-zone and he works on this every day and wants to be a good two-way defenseman. That stood out to me when I came here. He’s really good all over the ice and we need him to make plays. And he’s such a nice guy. I’m happy to be on his team and help him out.”

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As for this own game, Ekman-Larsson showed something with Hughes on the sidelines.

“I know I can still play with the puck,” he said. “I knew the situation with Quinn and I just did what the team needed me to do — whether stepping into the power play on unit No. 1 or killing penalties — and it doesn’t really matter for me.

“I know I’m a good player and can still play with the puck and shoot and score. It felt good to put up some points, but to be honest, I don’t think I was playing that well when the points came. But it is nice to get on the board, too.”

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As for where and what Hughes was doing in the US, or allowed to do during his quarantine, it was a mystery because his location was never divulged by the Canucks. A good bet is that he was not glued to a video-game console, judging by past comments about his down time.

“I left my Xbox at home (Michigan), so that’s how much I care about gaming,” he once told this reporter. “I left it because I forgot it and don’t really care because I didn’t use it at all in the summer. It’s just collecting dust downstairs.”

Hughes does like going to movies, so if that worked with protocols, he probably caught a flick or two.

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