Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes made the difficult decision to sit out of the 4 Nations Face-off to tend to the oblique injury.
Hughes’ absence is a massive blow for Team USA. He was projected to be the number one defenceman on the team and would likely be playing top-pairing minutes alongside either the New York Rangers’ Adam Fox or the Boston Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy.
This also is upsetting news for the Hughes family, as this was the first opportunity for the brothers, Jack and Quinn, to play with each other at an international level.
Jack spoke with the media following Monday’s first practice to discuss the conversation — or lack thereof — between him and his brother regarding Quinn missing the 4 Nations Face-off:
“Probably just like, ‘Damn, sorry, man,'” Jack laughed when asked what Quinn texted him when informing him he would miss the tournament. “That was about it. There’s not much of a message. He’s just like, ‘I’m sorry, I was so pumped,’ but I’m like, ‘We’re both going to play a long time. At some point, we’ll play — maybe the third year. Last year was All-Star Game, didn’t happen. This year, this. So, hopefully Olympics next year we’ll get it done.”
Quinn has been out of the Canucks lineup since January 31, in a game against the Dallas Stars. Hughes briefly left that game but would return later on and finish the game. He tried to return the next game, going as far as to take pre-game skate against the Detroit Red Wings. Ultimately, Hughes would not suit up in that game and has missed the following three to save himself for the Canucks season.
While it’s upsetting that the brothers won’t be able to play together, Jack understands that you can’t help an injury. The brothers look forward to having another opportunity in their young careers — maybe as soon as the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Something he was fighting over for a week now since he got injured,” Jack continued. “He wants to be a part of this, and he was really excited to come with this group and put the USA jersey back on. It’s frustrating, but if you’re injured, you’re injured.
“(Playing with Quinn) was definitely something I was really looking forward to, but it’s hockey at the end of the day,. People get injured all the time. I was looking forward to spending time with him, but it’s all good.”
Canucks fans won’t have the pleasure of watching Quinn play among his nation’s best. However, he will be resting up, saving himself for the regular season and the final push for the playoffs.
