It has been quite some time since the Vancouver Canucks have seen Quinn Hughes command the ice, and the fans are eager to have him back. During the 4 Nations Face-Off, Vancouver’s golden boy had to sit out due to a mystery injury, leaving Team USA to call in Jake Sanderson as his replacement. The reigning Norris Trophy winner seemed to take a hit towards the end of the Canucks’ tough 5-3 loss against the Dallas Stars on January 31, and ever since? He’s been MIA.

Four straight games without their captain and fans have been left wondering—what’s the deal? But now, right as the Canucks are set to go head-to-head with the LA Kings, a new update on Hughes has brought a wave of hope to the NHL fans. Could the wait finally be over? The whispers of his return have fans on a cliffhanger because, let’s be real—without him, something just feels off.

Before the puck even dropped, Thomas Drance, senior writer for The Athletic NHL, had Canucks fans on edge with an update on X. Dropping the latest tea straight from Tocchet, he posted, “Quinn Hughes is a game-time decision, according to Tocchet. Rick Tocchet wouldn’t confirm that the #Canucks captain and star will return to the lineup Wednesday in L.A., noted that he’s on the ice currently and the club will check in afterwards. Lankinen starts.”

So, basically—Hughes was out there skating, but no promises just yet. It’s the kind of last-minute suspense that keeps fans glued to their screens, fingers crossed, and hearts racing.

One fan was spot on when they joked but also made a lot of sense by posting, “Let my wife return home please I need him back.” And honestly? They’re not wrong. The Canucks are in dire need of their captain to return to the ice. Vancouver has already hit the ice six times this month and although they are preparing for the seventh game against LA Kings on February 26, their performance is quite mediocre: three victories and three defeats. A true 50-50 split. But the real kicker? It has been a kick in the gut for them in the last two games.

First, Dylan Guenther scored a tiebreaker 5:53 left to the clock, which made the Canucks lose with a score of 2-1 to the Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center. And before that? In the third period, Brandon Saad did not take much time to score the go-ahead goal at 18 seconds and the Canucks fell to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 at the T-Mobile Arena. So yeah, Vancouver needs Quinn Hughes back like yesterday as Canucks are this close to a hat trick of heartbreaks and with Hughes in the mix, they’ve got a stronger shot at turning things around. But that is just the beginning!

Quinn Hughes’ possible return makes fans happy!

Another fan hyped things up, shouting, “Let’s go my Captain!” And honestly? Vancouver needs him now more than ever. Hughes was not just any pick; he was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, considered one of the top prospects before he set foot on an NHL ice. Right from the start, he showed off that silky-smooth offensive magic as a defenseman, and by 2020, he was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie. The guy’s been a force, a leader, and a playmaker—so yeah, it’s no surprise that Canucks fans are practically holding their breath for his return.

And speaking of stressed-out fans, one summed it up perfectly: “Unfortunately my nervous system can’t tell the difference between game-time decision and being held at gunpoint.” Yep, that’s the kind of tension Quinn Hughes brings to the table. There’s more to the story, and fans aren’t holding back. One summed it up with, “Game-time decision = he’s not completely recovered, but we need help.” And honestly? That tracks.

Just recently, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly spilled the tea—Hughes wasn’t allowed to suit up for Team USA unless they were short on defensemen against Canada. And if the choice had been his? Oh, he’d be there in a heartbeat, ready to make an impact in Team USA’s biggest showdown. A week ago, when asked about the possibility of playing, Hughes admitted, “I really want to… They still have their six D, so that changes my situation a little bit.” But while he played it cool, Brady Tkachuk? Not so much. Tkachuk took to Spittin’ Chiclets on YouTube and went full tell-all mode, saying he FaceTimed Quinn during the whole back-and-forth drama.

According to him, Hughes was all in, but Vancouver wasn’t clearing him to play—which, let’s be real, he called “shady business.” And while he didn’t say it outright, the vibe was clear: the Canucks were keeping their guy safe, but also, maybe, just maybe, protecting their own interests. Despite all the speculation, one thing’s for sure—fans are screaming “HES BACKKKK” now that things are finally looking up! But let’s be real—the LA Kings are on fire, snagging five wins in six games this month alone. Meanwhile, the Canucks? Yeah… they’ve been struggling, and fans aren’t exactly breathing easy.

“Can he not play against the Kings? Like, I’m scared they’ll injure him.” And honestly? Fair concern. The Kings have been hitting hard, skating fast, and showing no mercy—so Quinn’s return is both a blessing and a bit of a nail-biter. That said, if he steps back on that ice? Oh, it’s game on. The Canucks with Hughes in the lineup just hits different—more control, more fire, more chances to flip the script.