Vancouver Canucks name Quinn Hughes captain

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they’ve named defenseman Quinn Hughes the captain of the team going into the 2023-24 season.

Hughes, 23, becomes captain after the departure of previous captain Bo Horvat partway through the 2022-23 season when he was dealt to the New York Islanders. Horvat had been captain for parts of four seasons, first being given the role in the 2019-20 season. Hughes had been given the alternate captain role for the first time in the 2022-23 season.

“It means a great deal to me to be named captain of the Canucks,” Hughes said in a statement released by the Canucks. “When I came here 5 years ago, I knew what I was walking in to having grown up in Toronto; just a crazy hockey market and a passionate fan base. It has been a pleasure and treat to play for this franchise and to be the captain is something that is incredibly special and something that I couldn’t ever imagine would happen.”

Hughes becomes the 15th captain in franchise history, a list that includes franchise greats like Trevor Lindon, Markus Naslund, Roberto Luongo, and Henrik Sedin. He will need to hold on to the captaincy for nine seasons to become the longest-tenured captain in Canucks’ history, with Stan Smyl, Naslund, and Sedin all holding the current franchise record of eight seasons.

“We informed our core leadership group that Quinn was going to be the captain,” said Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin. “Not only was everybody enthusiastic and supportive of the decision, but they were also extremely happy for Quinn. He is very well liked and respected inside our dressing room, and we know he will continue to grow and develop his leadership skills in the years to come.”

Hughes is coming off his best season in the NHL last year, where he had 7 goals, 69 assists, and 76 points in 78 games. It wasn’t good enough to be named a finalist for the Norris trophy, but he did place ninth in voting with 30 votes, including one first-place vote.