The Vancouver Canucks suffered their second straight loss to the Seattle Kraken and the whole Climate Pledge Arena witnessed a 6-3 final score on the board. In the first period, Quinn Hughes‘ team led the game at 2-1, but the Kraken took the lead in the second period, making the score 4-3. And as the 3rd period ended, the score gap widened to 6-3 when the Kraken completely dominated the Vancouver Canucks. But we’ve got news more concerning than the Canucks’ landslide loss. As y’all know, Quinn Hughes’s sudden exit mid-game has sparked a row. 

When reporters asked the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, Rick Tocchet, for a reason why Hughes might have left early and if that was anything to read into, his response was ambiguous. “Yeah, he didn’t play the last time. He was a little, he tweaked something, so we’ll look at it tomorrow. I’m not sure right now what’s going on.” only to add more to the frenzy.

 NHL insider Elliotte Friedman also stirred the pot with a not-so-reassuring update, “Bigger concern than the loss for the Canucks. Quinn Hughes did not play the last 9:05.” He further added, “He came in with what’s believed to be an oblique injury. And probably aggravated something there. Like they have played 11-7 the last couple of games since he came back… I just wondered if he aggravated the previous problem.” But what actually happened to Quinn Hughes during the Canucks-Kraken game remains shrouded in mystery.

With 9:05 left on the ice for both teams, Hughes stepped out and couldn’t play the rest of the game. Just when Canucks fans had some reprieve with the sight of Hughes on the ice, the curtains seemed to have been drawn again on Hughes’ fate for the remainder of the season. This doesn’t sit right especially since Quinn Hughes has not played a game since January 31. Hughes was made to sit out the 4-Nations tournament due to an undisclosed injury. 

The decision by the Canucks’ management only seemed fair since the intention seemed to be to guard their star player from any more complications that would contribute to his future absence ahead of this NHL season. But with Hughes’ abrupt exit from the ice in the game against the Kraken, the ire of the Canucks’ fan base is visible. The Canucks’ front office has least bothered to put out any official word concerning Hughes and Tocchet did no justice in putting off the fire of doubt in the post-game pressers.

So if the Canucks fans are irate, they are not to blame. The dry spell of poor performances on the Canucks’ part has led to various factions of opinions among the fans who now question every decision of head coach Rick Tocchet and the management under the shady umbrella known as strategy. Fans also felt slighted over J.T. Miller’s trade to the New York Rangers in exchange for Elias Petterson due to Miller’s constant feuds with the other Elias Petterson. In hindsight, that probably feels like a misplaced move now. Maybe the Canucks would fare better had they taken this fan’s advice, “Trade EP116 for Mikko Rantanen please. Do it for the fans that pay to watch you guys.“

Fans question Canucks’s management after Quinn Hughes’s injury re-emerges

As the Vancouver Canucks continue to play Quinn Hughes despite his lingering oblique injury, fans are directing their frustration at head coach Rick Tocchet. One fan didn’t hold back, saying, “Rick, you can say all the stuff you want, but the reality is you’re just giving Quinn more reason to leave.” Another fan took a jab at the Canucks’ front office, questioning their priorities: “Does this team even think about or care about the fans anymore? It would be nice to hear from the coach or the players, ‘Our fans deserve better.’ They don’t care.”

With another potential lower-body injury looming over Hughes, the frustration has reached new heights. Some fans have already thrown in the towel on the season. “Let’s call it a season. Hughes is hurt, Demko is hurt again, and nobody else is playing. No top liners. We are done.”

The criticism didn’t stop there, as another fan voiced their disappointment with the Canucks’ lack of resilience: “This team folds the second adversity hits. No adjustments, no response, just the same excuses every night.” Meanwhile, some fans are taking a more sarcastic approach. In response to Tocchet’s vague injury updates, one quipped, “As long as he didn’t say day-to-day, Hughes should be fine.” Others, however, are pushing for drastic changes, with some even calling for Hughes to be traded.

The Vancouver fanbase is irate, and rightfully so. The Canucks’ management and coaching staff have done little to address Hughes’ injury concerns, even as they sit fourth in the Pacific Division. While that may seem like a secure spot for now, there are still plenty of games left in the season. The real question remains—how long will the Canucks continue risking their star defenseman before making a firm decision on his health? Do tell us in the comments below.