Quinn Hughes maintains heB次元官网网址檚 not getting carried away by the numbers.

HeB次元官网网址檚 the first player to crack the 30 point mark in the 2023-24 NHL regular season with eight goals B次元官网网址� tying a career-high B次元官网网址� and 22 assists.

B次元官网网址淵eah, I mean I was second in the league for defencemen last year, you know, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 really mean much at the end of the day,B次元官网网址� he said on Monday after the Canucks beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1.

Hughes is the third defenceman in NHL history to have 30 points in the first 17 games of the year.

The Canucks captain has shown his offensive potential during his five seasons with the Canucks, but has stepped up a level since receiving the captaincy as well as with input from two former elite defencemen in coaches Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e all given me pointers,B次元官网网址� Hughes said about the input from the pair. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e tried to be coachable. TheyB次元官网网址檝e helped my game, theyB次元官网网址檝e helped our teamB次元官网网址檚 game.B次元官网网址�

Both joined Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet in January 2023 when he took over the reins from Bruce Boudreau.

Foote works as the teamB次元官网网址檚 assistant coach with Gonchar the teamB次元官网网址檚 defensive development coach.

B次元官网网址淚 knew he could defend and I knew he could play but I didnB次元官网网址檛 know how competitive he is,B次元官网网址� Foote said about Hughes.

The Stanley Cup winner and former Colorado Avalanche defenceman turned coach was a different type of player than Hughes, but he said he and Gonchar have tried to impart some of their wisdom on their defensive charges.

B次元官网网址淲e try to explain to them everything weB次元官网网址檙e telling you is something we got burnt on by some great hockey player, which I think puts them more at ease,B次元官网网址� said Foote.

B次元官网网址淓verything we say, we did it wrong or didnB次元官网网址檛 do it a better way.B次元官网网址�

Gonchar became the first Russian defenceman to score 20 goals in an NHL season in 1998-99. He followed up his 21 goals that campaign by surpassing the 50-point mark the following season with 54.

Foote, meanwhile, had 308 points (66 goals, 242 assists) in over 1,000 games with the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche.

Hughes said Gonchar has helped him work on the offence aspect of his game and been a sounding board for tips and tricks to learn when attacking.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a change from the 2022-23 season, when Hughes started without a goal for the first 29 games, finally snapping the streak in a win over the San Jose Sharks.

B次元官网网址淚 think I know going into the game, I know IB次元官网网址檓 going to get one of those looks,B次元官网网址� he said after his eighth goal of the 2023-24 season on Monday.

Tocchet has been quick to pay tribute to his staff and highlight the importance of delegating working with players to them.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important when you have an Adam Foote, a Sergei Gonchar, the (Sedins), (Mike) Yeo, IB次元官网网址檇 be nuts not to use those guys,B次元官网网址� he said.

Tocchet also highlighted the differences between Hughes start to this season compared to previous campaigns.

B次元官网网址淗e said B次元官网网址業 have to have a good training camp and a good startB次元官网网址� and heB次元官网网址檚 parlayed into that,B次元官网网址� said Tocchet.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 in the Cale Makar category now. I never saw a guy like Makar who walks that blue line and youB次元官网网址檝e got to throw (Hughes) in there. The way he walks that blue line is incredible.B次元官网网址�

For Foote, who works closely with Hughes, he said he can see the adjustments Hughes is making as teams become adjusted to the CanucksB次元官网网址� offensive product and style.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not catching teams by surprise anymore,B次元官网网址� said Foote.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 learning to manage the game, manage his opponent, recognizing when theyB次元官网网址檙e coming after him and not trying to do too much.B次元官网网址�

Hughes plays on the teamB次元官网网址檚 top power play unit and has 14 power play points this season, nearly half the amount he had all season last year.

Foote said he knows when thereB次元官网网址檚 an offensive push, Hughes will be looking to catch his eye.

B次元官网网址淚 start giggling sometimes, sometimes I know when thereB次元官网网址檚 an offensive drive, I canB次元官网网址檛 look to the right cause I know heB次元官网网址檚 right there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 fun.B次元官网网址�

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