Quinn Hughes is an irreplaceable player, yet there are three new guys in Vancouver who always will have ties to the former captain.
On Saturday, former Minnesota Wild players Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Liam Ohgren participated in their first Canucks practice following the blockbuster Hughes trade. After practice, the media was quick to ask about the trade and how the newest Canucks will slot in.
Buium, the 12th-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, explained he’s not even thinking about replacing Hughes.
“I want to be me. I mean obviously you know the kind of player he is, he’s a superstar. He’s done so many great things, won a Norris (trophy), the top defenceman in the U.S., if not the best defenceman in the NHL,” Buium said. “I think for me I’ve always liked to watch him and take things from him, but I want to be me. I want to write my own story, and I don’t think I look too much into all that stuff, I just still want to become the best player I can be.”
The 24-year-old defenceman has three goals and 11 assists over 31 games in his rookie season with the Wild.
Ohgren acknowledged the transition that will take place as they learn to fit in on a new team.
“I think obviously a great opportunity for me to get here, kind of a different situation from Minnesota, I think it will be good for me. It’s been tough, but I’m happy to be here now.”
Ohgren has played in 18 games with the Wild this season, but has yet to record a point. The 21-year-old winger was selected in the first round of the 2022 draft.
Rossi did not speak to media because he is still on IR. However, he is trending toward making his Canucks debut Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, head coach Adam Foote told reporters, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. The 24-year-old centre has been out since Nov. 14 because of a lower-body injury he suffered in the middle of October.
Watch the Canucks-Devils game on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+.
