The graceful-skating defenceman stated collaboration and openness would be the hallmarks of his management model.
VICTORIA — Canucks captain Quinn Hughes says he sees himself as the kind of chief who desires to construct a household ambiance on the staff the place all people feels welcome.
“It’s positively not a dictatorship,” he stated Sunday because the NHL staff accomplished its coaching camp and began pre-season exhibition video games earlier than its Oct. 11 season opener towards the visiting Edmonton Oilers.
“There’s going to be a number of guys talking up or have totally different roles and really feel snug doing that, and that’s the way it needs to be,” he stated.
Hughes, 23, was named Canucks captain earlier this month, succeeding former captain Bo Horvat who was traded to the New York Islanders final season.
The graceful-skating defenceman stated collaboration and openness would be the hallmarks of his management model.
“I need everybody to have a voice and I need it to be a household,” Hughes stated. “Once I know that one of many youthful guys says one thing within the room, that’s after I know we’ve sort of turned it right into a household.”
Hughes stated he understands at coaching camp and early within the season some youthful gamers are nervous and would moderately not communicate up.
“I used to be that man,” he stated. “I need guys to really feel snug who they’re. I don’t care for those who’re a younger man, first 12 months man or simply first camp. I imply don’t be obnoxious, however be your self and really feel snug with your self. That’s the massive factor with me.”
Hughes stated being named captain will even be a private studying expertise as he progresses in his hockey profession.
“I’ll simply continue to learn, studying the way to cope with the position, the way to deal with my teammates and revel in it and have enjoyable with it,” he stated. “Not solely with the captaincy, however my very own sport. I all the time really feel like I’m rising. It’s an enormous a part of why I hold getting higher.”
The low season arrivals of defencemen Ian Cole from Tampa Bay, Matt Irwin from Washington and Carson Soucy from Seattle and final 12 months’s late season acquisition of Filip Hronek from Detroit provides veteran presence and expertise to the Canucks blue-line, Hughes stated.
Cole and Soucy additionally convey playoff expertise to the staff, he stated.
Hughes stated he’s wanting ahead to this season after final 12 months, when the Canucks completed out of the playoffs in sixth place within the Pacific Division.
“Guys are excited to play,” he stated. “We’d like guys who’re actually aggressive, wish to win and hate dropping.”