Quinn Hughes ties Canucks’ assists record, just two points away from d-man scoring record

Quinn Hughes is having himself a pretty special season.

The 22-year-old Vancouver Canucks blueliner has a chance to etch himself in Canucks history over the club’s remaining five games.

During last night’s shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators, Hughes added two assists — his 54th and 55th of the season — to his point total, which now sits at 61.

Hughes picked up the only assist on J.T. Miller’s power play goal, and on Travis Dermott’s first goal as a Canuck on Tuesday evening.

With 55 assists on the season, Hughes has tied the Canucks’ single-season franchise record for assists by a defenceman, set by Dennis Kearns in the 1976-1977 season.

As has been talked about plenty this season, Hughes has elevated his game at both ends of the ice this season after a bit of a disappointing sophomore season when it comes to his defensive play.

Hughes came into this season vowing to be better defensively, and he’s delivered on that. Hughes has even developed into one of the Canucks’ most trusted and most effective penalty killers under Bruce Boudreau.

Hughes has five games left on the season to tally two points in order to reach Doug Lidster’s record for most points by a defenceman, which was set in the 1986-87 season when Lidster recorded 63 points in 80 games.

Assuming Hughes appears in all five of the Canucks’ remaining games, he will finish the season with 75 games played.