ANAHEIM, Calif. — Outstanding rookie defenceman Quinn Hughes left the Vancouver Canucks’ game in the first period Friday after appearing to sprain his ankle during an open-ice fall.
With 10 points in 12 games, the top-four defenceman was tied for the scoring lead among National Hockey League rookies and is one of the early favourites for the Calder Trophy.
His average ice time of 20:20 was second among freshmen, and Hughes has been a major catalyst in the Canucks’ surging power play and the 8-1-1 tear the team carried into Friday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
The Canucks have no other defencemen who possess his skill set.
As the Ducks rushed up ice with the puck, Hughes was skating quickly towards his own zone when he tried to pivot but fell forward in the neutral zone. Play was stopped and he was able to get up and, with referee Kyle Rehman’s help, limp off the ice and to the Canucks’ dressing room.
The team quickly announced Hughes would not return due to a “lower-body” injury.
Vancouver plays again Saturday night in San Jose. The team is carrying one extra defenceman, minor-league call-up Ashton Sautner.
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