In this Player Spotlight, we break down the exceptional play of Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes, showcasing what sets him apart. Hughes plays with remarkable pace, seamlessly transitioning from defense to offense. In these clips, we focus on his offensive chances through the first few months of the 2024/25 season. His ability to control the game with puck possession. His routes & how he keeps momentum increase his pace and add to his quickness along the offensive blue line. Combined with his edges to change direction allow him to beat defenders, extend plays, find shooting lanes, and sustain offensive zone pressure. This breakdown highlights Hughes’ poise, vision, and elite playmaking that solidifies him as one of the best defensemen in the NHL. #intangibleshockey #nhl #hockeydevelopment #hockeyiq #hockeysense #vancouvercanucks #canuckshighlights #canucks #hockeytips #hockeyanalysis
@Vancouver Canucks
6 Comments
Skating plus on-ice intelligence. Boom! Video done…Lol
best edges in the game and a massive hockey I Q. how many coaches watch hours of tape looking for a weak spot or predictability in his game and not finding any?
Some of his dashes remind me of old clips of Bobby Orr. Now, I'm not saying he's Bobby, and I never saw Orr play live. But their skating style and ability to go end to end as smaller players and being that unstoppable is similar. Bobby was also highly underrated defensively, as is Quinn. There are still so many people around the league who think it's just a rover. His play without the puck and in his own zone are excellent. And he can log huge minutes without making a lot of glaring mistakes. Cale Makar is a fantastic defenseman, but he's bigger and I don't think he has quite the impact for his team that Quinn does. I think we're back to an era where points pretty much decide the Norris, but in both that category and Hart Trophy, I put Quinn at this point in the season at or near the top.
HART THIS YEAR!
Quinn's advantage is none of these, its his ability to get better every year, ever since he came into the league, he improved every year, that's the best part about him
Is it fair to say that Quinn has broken the mold of what kind of player can or should play defense? With all the skillset of an elite forward – speed, puck-handling, shooting and extraordinary play-making ability – one might wonder how he ever got slotted into the role of defenseman – but that move was pure genius. Like an NFL quarterback Hughes dominates the play both offensively and defensively at a level only Kale Makar can be compared with – but even there, while Makar's offensive numbers are comparable, his defensive goals against rate is more than double Quinn's.