Vancouver hockey fans will have to wait to see the CanucksB次元官网网址� top pick in this yearB次元官网网址檚 NHL draft play with the team.

Defenceman Quinn Hughes has decided to return to the University of Michigan this fall.

The 18-year-old says in an interview with the schoolB次元官网网址檚 athletic department that he loves his teammates and believes the Wolverines have what it takes to capture an NCAA championship this season.

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The seventh overall pick at this yearB次元官网网址檚 NHL draft had five goals and 29 points in 37 games with Michigan last season, when the team was knocked out of the championship semifinals by Notre Dame.

Hughes says Canucks general manager Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green are happy with the decision and are thinking about whatB次元官网网址檚 best for him long term.

GM Jim BenningB次元官网网址檚 statement on Quinn Hughes opting to return to next season.

B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)

Benning has previously said that he feels the five-foot-10, 174-pound defenceman is already an NHL skater, but needs to get physically stronger to play in the league.

After weighing all the options, Hughes says returning to school in Michigan is what makes the most sense.

B次元官网网址淢y legacy at MichiganB次元官网网址檚 important to me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 want to do something special at Michigan B次元官网网址� something that nobodyB次元官网网址檚 ever done.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian Press