Quinn Hughes finishes season as top rookie scorer

With the NHL breaking down their 24-team playoff format for a return to play Tuesday, league commissioner Gary Bettman announced the 2019-20 season has come to an official end.

And with that, Vancouver Canucks defenceman finishes the 2019-20 season as the league-leading rookie scorer.

Hughes, 20, scored eight goals, 45 assists for 53 points in 68 games this year with the Canucks. He outscored his closest competitor, Cale Makar, and seven points above the third-placed Dominik Kubalik.

Of his 53 points, Hughes put up 25 on the powerplay — a league-high among rookies. The rearguard played 21:53 on average every night for the Canucks as he solidified himself as a threat from the backend.

In each of the last five seasons, the rookie who scored the most points went on to win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. It bodes well for Hughes, who is without a doubt a frontrunner for that trophy.

Last season, Elias Pettersson was awarded the Calder Trophy. If Hughes wins it this year, it will mark the first time since 1967-68 that two players from the same team won the trophy.

In 1966-67, Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr won the trophy with teammate Derek Sanderson winning in the subsequent year.

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