Hughes Named to NHL 2019-20 All-Rookie Team
9/22/2020 11:05:00 AM | Ice Hockey
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Former University of Michigan ice hockey standout and current Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes was named the 2019-20 National Hockey League (NHL) All- Rookie Team, the league announced Monday evening (Sept. 21).
A finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's top rookie, Hughes finished second in the voting (1,337 points) to winner Cale Makar (1,538) of the Colorado Avalanche and third finalist Dominik Kublaik (554) of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Hughes is the second Wolverine to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, since the first team was named in the 1982-83 season. Zach Werenksi (Columbus Blue Jackets) was the first Michigan man to earn a place on the team in 2016-17.
Hughes led all NHL rookies in scoring during the regular season (eight goals, 45 assists, 53 points) in 68 games played. He is just the third defenseman in NHL's modern era (since 1943-44) to lead all rookies in scoring joining Bobby Orr (1966-67) and Brian Leetch (1988-89). His 53 points also marked the most points by a rookie defenseman in a single season since 1991-92, when Nicklas Lindstrom had 60 points in 80 games.
The seventh overall selection of the 2018 NHL Draft, Hughes also led all rookies in assists with 45, power-play assists (22) and power-play points (25), while ranking second in average ice time (21:53).
The vote came prior to the Stanley Cup playoffs, where Hughes set the league's record for assists by a rookie defenseman in a single postseason. His 14 assists also set an NHL record for most assists in a playoff year by a rookie defenseman. His 16 points were a Vancouver franchise record in the playoffs for any rookie regardless of position.
With a goal and eight assists in six consecutive games early in this year's playoffs, Hughes matched the longest point streak by a rookie defenseman, joining Al MacInnis in 1984 and equaled by Zarley Zalapski in 1989. Hughes also tied the Vancouver franchise record of consecutive postseason games with an assist, tying Henrik Sedin.
A finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2019, Hughes was a first team All-American his sophomore year. He led Michigan in scoring with 33 points (five goals, 28 assists) in 32 games. As a freshman, he helped the Wolverines to an appearance in the Frozen Four and collected 29 points.
