Hughes Traded Thread

[Carl Yagro]

Sorry Wids, I'm going to have to disagree with some of your points here.

QH certainly could and did elevate other players.

There is no way they could have improved a historically terrible PK under Travisty and BB back to mid-levels if it weren't for the 3 primary drivers of the team (Hughes, Miller, Bo when he was still here). There was no way that the stats of the top 6 would have shot up to elite levels if it weren't for the QBs (Hughes, Miller) primarily running the PP and turning it into a top 10 (top 5?) unit.

EP with his low 40s FO% was a 4th or 5th driver along with Brock. In many important parts of the game, he was more winger than center.

The difference was, QH had help and depth to affect the game and thus elevate teammates. For example, you can't not mention the big personalities like Zadorov, Cole, Myers that ran the room. Having defensive NHL depth as well as center depth (Suter, Blueger and even Lindholm... very underrated).

There's no way to elevate the likes of Bains, Karlsson and other AHLers. When you have to start guys like Sasson and Sherwood often on your 1st PP, I'm not sure how you are not pressured to try to do more yourself. Would I trust those guys? No, not really.

I don't blame him for looking around and imagining wasting his prime years not getting close to winning again. That's not just his current teammates but also the ownership's mandate and whatever management is trying to do. I would have little faith myself.

I'm not saying QH is not complicit in the downfall, I'm just disagreeing with him not being the type of player that makes others better.

EDIT: Lol, ok, I just read your latest... I agree, I think he just got overly excited at being on a good team and having such elite talent to play with again. I also think he was being very diplomatic with the "injuries" remark as not to say what we all know... we suck bigly right now and would still suck with a fully healthy squad.

[Chef Boi RD]

“Linden was right” is not relevant to Hughes decision. Linden was right regarding what led to his firing. What went wrong was a few bad decisions by the current management group that led to Quinn wanting out - the Horvat trade, the missed Pettersson trade, the handling of the Miller/Pettersson controversy and the Miller trade. All those affected the elite talent that disappeared around Quinn starting at that infamous all/star game.

[Chef Boi RD]

Quinn Hughes on when he knew his time in Vancouver was over:

“There were some talks this summer. I came into the year open-minded and wanted to make it work and wanted to have a great year but with the injuries and the direction it was going, it wasn’t happening.”

Pretty much points the finger at the management.

[donlever]

The rumours & spin were bound to pop up so here is one (social media so grain of salt):

Ovechkins offer.

McMichael
Hutson
Prospect #2
2 firsts

[Chef Boi RD]

The rumours & spin were bound to pop up so here is one (social media so grain of salt):

Ovechkins offer.

McMichael
Hutson
Prospect #2
2 firsts

The Wild return is better

[Chef Boi RD]

Let’s face it, a lot of (not all) Americans don’t like playing in Canada. Quinn Hughes at the end of the day, his heart wasn’t in it to play in Canada for a long time.

“They've got an amazing core. Obviously I've only been here for four hours, but I'm getting to know some of the guys, and how energetic and positive some of them are. And then Minnesota, being so close to Michigan, and just the State of Hockey and the passion here. That means a lot to me."

It would be really nice if we land on a Canadian kid with the top pick. Getting tired of some of the Americans to be honest. I’d much rather take a Swede over American if it came down to it. They don’t mind playing here.

[Meds]

I’d much rather take a Swede over American if it came down to it. They don’t mind playing here.

They don't mind losing in the playoffs either.

[donlever]

Let’s face it, a lot of (not all) Americans don’t like playing in Canada. Quinn Hughes at the end of the day, his heart wasn’t in it to play in Canada for a long time.

Pure supposition....if our derelict, idiotic management team did their job and built an actual team around a Superstar instead of deploying their cross our fingers and hope Management style who knows where we are now...

...no one..that's who.

Ovechkins offer.

...the Wild return was better.

...by a fair margin agreed.

[Lancer]

Let’s face it, a lot of (not all) Americans don’t like playing in Canada. Quinn Hughes at the end of the day, his heart wasn’t in it to play in Canada for a long time.

Pure supposition....

Vancouver does have a track record of notable American players fucking off the club. Miller is the most immediate example. Kesler also easily comes to mind. Schneider was all too happy to get the hell out of Vancouver. Gaudette is a minor player, but had nothing good to say of his time here.

Face it, if American players have a choice of destinations, Canada is at the bottom of their lists. You can talk about Boeser and Garland signing extensions... that happened when they thought Quit Hughes was sticking around. Wonder how they feel now?? If they're left without any seats with American teams when the music stops playing, they'll grudgingly take their paycheque in Canadian pesos if it means playing in The Show. You can bring up Brady Tkachuk, but proof will be in the pudding next season when he is eligible to re-up or go as a UFA. We'll see what Caufield and Hutson do when they get closer to UDA and whether Montreal is competitive enough for them or not. Connor and Matthews are the only outliers - and both make well more than Pettersson. Besides, Matthews is in the centre of hockey media and is treated like a God in TO.

Guerin isn't wrong about good hockey, but we all know that the hockey HAS to be good for Americans to put up with playing for "Snow Mexicans" and paying obscene amounts in taxes comparatively speaking. Nobody was clamouring to get out of Florida, Tampa or even Arizona when the hockey was shit. American players are mercenaries who don't give a fuck about anywhere or anyone besides Americans and America. There are the odd outliers or dual-citizens, but draft Americans at your peril.

[donlever]

He said Canada not Vancouver.

Kesler was fine here until he wasn't, thats not all on him...two to tangle and all that.

Journalistic license on Schneider as no Luongo and things may have been different.

Miller happily signed a below market value deal to finish his career here and set up a life in town for his family & as thanks for that we as a fan base, you included, trash his ass incessantly.

Hmmmm....I wonder why they wouldn't like it here....

[UWSaint]

Let’s face it, a lot of (not all) Americans don’t like playing in Canada. Quinn Hughes at the end of the day, his heart wasn’t in it to play in Canada for a long time.

Pure supposition....

Vancouver does have a track record of notable American players fucking off the club. Miller is the most immediate example. Kesler also easily comes to mind. Schneider was all too happy to get the hell out of Vancouver. Gaudette is a minor player, but had nothing good to say of his time here.

Face it, if American players have a choice of destinations, Canada is at the bottom of their lists. You can talk about Boeser and Garland signing extensions... that happened when they thought Quit Hughes was sticking around. Wonder how they feel now?? If they're left without any seats with American teams when the music stops playing, they'll grudgingly take their paycheque in Canadian pesos if it means playing in The Show. You can bring up Brady Tkachuk, but proof will be in the pudding next season when he is eligible to re-up or go as a UFA. We'll see what Caufield and Hutson do when they get closer to UDA and whether Montreal is competitive enough for them or not. Connor and Matthews are the only outliers - and both make well more than Pettersson. Besides, Matthews is in the centre of hockey media and is treated like a God in TO.

Guerin isn't wrong about good hockey, but we all know that the hockey HAS to be good for Americans to put up with playing for "Snow Mexicans" and paying obscene amounts in taxes comparatively speaking. Nobody was clamouring to get out of Florida, Tampa or even Arizona when the hockey was shit. American players are mercenaries who don't give a fuck about anywhere or anyone besides Americans and America. There are the odd outliers or dual-citizens, but draft Americans at your peril.

So it wasn't that the Canucks have been a train wreck since Hughes was drafted (and a few years before), it was just that he's an American mercenary who we speculate will do mercenary things (like play with siblings? like want to win?). A good Canadian kid would marry that bride who gave him no evidence she will be a good wife, right? Those good Canadian kids like Mitch Marner would never leave their dream-come-true-drafted-by-my-hometown-club, right? They love hockey that's less than functional and where the media and fans are crazy. Because they love Canada.

You know who besides Americans aren't generally clamoring to get out of lovely places despite mediocre hockey? Canadians. You know, I've heard there are some good Canadians on the Florida Panthers, even on hometown discounts. They must hate Canada. Or hate losing. Or something.

And what is the "Canada" NHL team you are referring to? All 7 clubs and provinces present the same thing to them, right? Same product, right? Same housing prices? Same quality schools? Same taxes? Same cost of living? And what rube -- a mercenary American!!!! -- might consider cost of living when evaluating where to sign? What rube -- a mercenary American!!! -- might be consider management of the company signing them?

[Lancer]

Miller was - and still is IMO - a temperamental child who bought into what Baldy and Tocchy were preaching at him; the hockey WAS good enough to put with being in a Canadian market. Give Miller this, his heart is usually in what he thinks is the right place even if his head is up his ass more often than not. Then the hockey wasn't good enough, and he was too eager to bolt.

I forgot Demko, but he's a weirdo Californian who likely votes blue to begin with so Vancouver may not be so alien to his sensibilities.

If Hughes had committed to being a career Canuck - and you have to believe management had done everything they thought they could to make that happen - then, the whole narrative could have turned on its head. Wouldn't it be nice for a star American player to commit to Vancouver the way Swedes have? In the end, the narrative continues its validity.

[donlever]

Wouldn't it be nice for a star American player to commit to Vancouver the way Swedes have? In the end, the narrative continues its validity.

....one did...just not the one you wanted.

And, as I said, he was cast aside and shit on once he left.

As was Kesler (shit on I mean) even after he went public with his side of the story.

As is Hughes being shit on now.

Seems like Canuck fans create their very own narrative validity out of hurt feelings....

[Carl Yagro]

I'll just add...

Many ex-Canucks, regardless of whether they are American or other nationalities are shit on once they leave, whether it's of their own accord or from others' decisions.

Many are shit on immediately with undeserved vitriol once their plane takes off from YVR. Some are shit on years after they retire and are still living in Van... because they were too "goody2shoes" and didn't have superstar talent.

Some are shit on for the entirety of their time or for a good portion of their time here... while they are still actually playing and contributing to the club.

Canucks Nation is a bizarre kind of fanbase that does deserve some of the mocking from other fanbases, IMO. Not every fan, but a good chunk of them.

[Megaterio Llamas]

How dare that American ingrate leave the Geezer's lovely outhouse fire?

A good Canadian kid would be happy to waste the prime of his career floundering around at the bottom of the standings.