VANCOUVER B次元官网网址� Many of Quinn HughesB次元官网网址� new teammates on the Vancouver Canucks know all about the giant life transition the young defenceman is about to make.

The 19-year-old signed a three-year entry-level deal with the organization on Sunday.

The Canucks (28-32-9) picked Hughes seventh overall at the 2018 NHL draft, but he opted to play a second season at the University of Michigan this year before turning pro.

The five-foot-10, 170-pound blueliner had five goals and 28 assists in 31 games for the Wolverines this season, but the team was knocked out of the NCAA playoffs by the University of Minnesota on Saturday.

Hughes will wear no. 4锔忊儯3锔忊儯 馃敟

B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)

Now Hughes could see some NHL action this season.

VancouverB次元官网网址檚 final 13 games of the year will provide a huge opportunity for the teen, said right-winger Brock Boeser, one of a handful of Canucks who jumped to the team after finishing a season of college hockey.

B次元官网网址淲hen I played those nine games (in 2017), it proved to me how fast the game is and how strong guys are and stuff like that. You go into summer knowing what you have to do to be ready for a full NHL season,B次元官网网址� said Boeser, who played two seasons at the University of North Dakota.

Centre Adam Gaudette had just wrapped his third season at Northeastern University last year when he was signed with the Canucks.

HeB次元官网网址檇 just won the NCAA award for the best player in Division I hockey when he slotted into VancouverB次元官网网址檚 lineup for five games and said the time was a whirlwind full of big lessons.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a small sample size but it helps a whole heck of a lot,B次元官网网址� he said.

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When Hughes joins the team next week, GaudetteB次元官网网址檚 advice to him will be simple.

B次元官网网址淛ust take it all in. DonB次元官网网址檛 let it slip by. Just enjoy it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漎ouB次元官网网址檙e here for the end of the season, just enjoy it and get adjusted and then when itB次元官网网址檚 time to come back next season, youB次元官网网址檝e really got to get after it.B次元官网网址�

For defenceman Troy Stecher, the biggest difference between playing college hockey at the University of North Dakota and joining the Canucks was the personalities in the locker room.

The native of Richmond was now sitting amongst players heB次元官网网址檇 grown up watching, including Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

B次元官网网址淭hat was the biggest thing,B次元官网网址� Stecher said. B次元官网网址滻 think from afar you kind of look at the NHL and youB次元官网网址檙e like B次元官网网址榃ell, thereB次元官网网址檚 a superstar.B次元官网网址� But at the end of the day, weB次元官网网址檙e all just a group of guys that are fortunately pretty good at a sport. The camaraderie in the room is a lot of fun to be around and that was the thing I was kind of blown away by, how normal everybody was.B次元官网网址�

When, exactly, Hughes will make his Canucks debut remains to be seen. HeB次元官网网址檚 expected to arrive in Vancouver on Tuesday and the team hosts the New York Rangers on Wednesday, but itB次元官网网址檚 unclear whether heB次元官网网址檒l be in the lineup.

Coach Travis Green said on Sunday that he hopes HughesB次元官网网址� transition from college hockey to pro will be clean and quick.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 an exciting part of our future and IB次元官网网址檓 hoping that I get to see him sooner rather than later,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 plan on getting him in (the lineup) if heB次元官网网址檚 here, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure. I want to play him as much as I can.B次元官网网址�

Some Vancouver hockey fans caught a glimpse of the young star when the city hosted the world junior hockey championships in January.

Hughes and his younger brother Jack B次元官网网址� a 17-year-old forward tapped to be one of the top picks at this yearB次元官网网址檚 draft B次元官网网址� helped team USA to a silver medal at the tournament.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a statement on Sunday that Hughes was a leader on his college team and has had success at the international level.

B次元官网网址淨uinn is an exceptional skater, strong on the puck and plays with creativity and vision,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e excited for (him) to join our team and continue to grow his game as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.B次元官网网址�

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

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