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Quinn Hughes didn’t practise on Thursday, a day before the Canucks are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes.
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Published Nov 13, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read
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Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is listed as ‘day to day’, but could play Friday or this weekend. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
The Vancouver Canucks’ three games in four nights set in the U.S. Southeast was always going to be challenging. Three teams that all have Stanley Cup ambitions, including the two-time defending champions?
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Oh boy.
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To face those three without the service of their best player? That’s oh boy in all-caps, as in “OH. BOY.”
Quinn Hughes flew with his mates to North Carolina on Wednesday. He did not skate with his mates on Thursday during practice.
Given all the bangs and bruises he is apparently carrying, that was not a real surprise — but it’s still concerning.
Head coach Adam Foote acknowledged Thursday that he is “hopeful” his captain can play on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Hughes is listed as “day to day,” the coach said, but what is keeping him from the lineup is not exactly clear.
Hughes did seem to injure his arm or shoulder on Tuesday, briefly leaving the game in obvious discomfort. He got tangled up with Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele chasing after a puck. Their sticks intertwined, then Hughes let up, as if he had jammed his arm or perhaps taken a blow to a nerve. Either way, his arm seemed limp.
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Whatever the problem was, he merely described it as a “weird play” when asked about it following Tuesday’s game, adding he thought he would be fine.
With Hughes absent from practice, spare defenceman Pierre-Olivier (P-O) Joseph skated in Hughes’s usual spot alongside Filip Hronek. An optimist would note that were Hughes not an option to play against the Hurricanes, Hronek would have been paired with a more realistic in-game partner such as Marcus Pettersson, rather than an apparent placeholder like Joseph.
At the same time, Hronek has spent a decent amount of time paired this season with Marcus Pettersson, so it’s not like he would be uncomfortable with a new partner should it turn out that Hughes can’t play on Friday.
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A less-than-prime Hughes is, like the absence of Thatcher Demko, the last thing the Canucks need right now. Demko is out week-to-week, a team source told Postmedia. Obviously, the player and team are hopeful he is not on the shelf for long.
Not only are they facing a powerhouse trio over the next four days, they need go on a run of picking up points. To get to the playoffs this season, the Canucks need to pick up something like 80 points from the remaining 68 games on the schedule. And without Hughes that task obviously is harder.
Even a less than fully healthy Hughes still makes this team better.
A small bright spot
In the midst of all this, a quick mention of where Tom Willander is at — a very good place, to be clear.
The rookie had a tough first game, but has been excellent since. He is driving play in a positive direction, and when he’s defending, he is making a tangible impact too.
With him on the ice, the data shows the chances the opposition is generating are reduced compared to when he’s not on the ice.
That is huge for any player — you want to be able to say the team is better when you’re on the ice. But it’s even better when you are all of 20 years old.
Willander isn’t going to be able to replace what Hughes brings to the ice, but he will help keep things steady when he’s on the ice, that’s for sure.
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