What a time to be a Vancouver Canucks fan. After a 2022-23 season where the team finished 38-37-7, good for sixth in the Pacific Division, the club has started with a 12-3-1 record, tied with the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights for first in the Western Conference.
As of Nov. 16, the three leading scorers in the NHL are J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and team captain Quinn Hughes, all tied for first with 26 points. What stands out for Hughes is that he’s currently on pace for 133 points, which would be the most points in a season for a defenseman since Paul Coffey scored 138 in 1985-86.
Now, whether Hughes can maintain producing at this rate is unclear, but the 2018 No. 7 overall pick is well on his way to only the second 100-point season for a defenseman in the 21st century (Erik Karlsson scored 101 in 2022-23 with the San Jose Sharks).
On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss Hughes’ fantastic start and if the Canucks’ defenseman can make history.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Quinn Hughes is on pace for 130-something points, he’s probably not putting up 130 but are we talking about him maybe hitting 110? Erik Karlsson did 100 last year and that blew our minds, but does Hughes have another gear?
Frank Seravalli: I think he does and I think we’re in that neighborhood of flirting with 120 points. I really believe that. Part of the reason for that is: look at the support he has. Is there going to be a stretch where not everyone is scoring at the same time? Yes, but Karlsson did 100 last year and had zero help in San Jose.
If you think that Quinn Hughes can go north of that if he stays healthy, I think we’re talking about one of the very special seasons by a defenseman in NHL history.
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