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Former NHLer Kevin Bieksa Calls Out Vancouver For Not Protecting Star Captain Quinn Hughes

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jan 27, 2025 9:24 AM ET

The Vancouver Canucks team has been in a free fall all season, and now, they're facing criticism for the way they've not stood up for Quinn Hughes.

The past few weeks have been tough in Vancouver, and after their team let captain Quinn Hughes get roughed up in a rivalry game against the Edmonton Oilers, top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman ripped them for the way they failed to protect their captain.

In their next game, Hughes scored the teams only two goals as they took down the Washington Capitals, but still, Hughes faced plenty of punishment from his opponents as other teams zero in on the star blue liner.

Kevin Bieksa has now joined in on the criticism of the team for not standing up for their captain, as he called out the team on his latest segment on Sportsnet in brutal fashion.

I don't care who you are on the Canucks, when your captain is being treated like that you drop whatever you're doing and you gang tackle whoever that guy is going after him.
You just don't expect Quinn Hughes to fight or have to even fight that battle. There's 4 other guys on the ice plus a goalie that's one where everybody jumps in no matter what and you defend your captain.

With the team missing Tyler Myers due to suspension, they were down one big body, but with the team still possessing the likes of Keifer Sherwood and Vincent DeSharnais, two players not scared of throwing their weight around, this just isn't what should be happening.

Despite the victory over Washington, Vancouver still sit on the outside looking in at the Stanley Cup race in the Western Conference, and if the team can't find a way to protect their only consistent producer in 2024/25, they may be looking at a shocking and early end to their season.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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